218 Goldwin Smith Hall
(607) 255-8515
philosophy.cornell.edu/epl
Central issues in our public lives involve moral dilemmas and numerous ethical concerns. Market economy raises questions of equity and justice, as well as questions about the relation between prosperity, the environment, and the quality of individual lives. In constitutional law, we confront dilemmas about civil rights, freedom of speech, privacy, and abortion. In politics and government, we wrestle with questions about truth, character, and legitimacy. And in international affairs, we encounter the complexities of war and peace, human rights, global poverty, and climate change.
The university-wide Program on Ethics and Public Life (EPL) is Cornell’s initiative in the systematic study of the ethical dimension of public issues. EPL promotes research and education in vital public issues through diverse initiatives. The program supports workshops and conferences related to ethics in the public domain, including an ongoing Ethics Colloquia series with invited scholars from other universities, guest lectures, and other interdisciplinary academic endeavors. EPL also offers and manages a minor in Law and Society .