Ethics Center announces book clubs for spring 2024

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Ethical questions regarding body size, plagiarism, cancel culture and the place of the virtues in living a good life are all topics for this spring's Center for the Study of Ethics in Society Ethics Between the Lines book club series that is underway. All discussions take place in person on Western Michigan University’s Main Campus.

Book club selections

• "Yellowface" by R. F. Kuang—Dr. Paul Pancella, professor of physics, and Victoria Vuletich, founder of Ethics Squared in Grand Rapids, will lead each discussion. This book navigates complex ethical issues surrounding plagiarism and racism after a woman publishes a book as her own that was actually written by a deceased colleague. Meetings will be in Room 3120 of Sangren Hall on Mondays, Jan. 29, Feb. 5 and 12, from 6 to 7 p.m. The book is the Reading Together 2024 pick for Kalamazoo Public Library, which will host a talk by the author at Chenery Auditorium on March 23.

• "Unshrinking" by Kate Manne—Noa Dahan, part-time instructor in the Department of Philosophy, will lead each discussion. This book explores the impacts of "fat phobia" on society. It discusses how the negative treatment of people because of their body size has seeped into society as a moral and political problem. Meetings will be in Room 3014 of Moore Hall on Wednesdays, March 13, 20 and 27 and April 3, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

• "The Women Are Up to Something" by Benjamin Lipscomb—Daniel Kosacz, part-time instructor in the Department of Philosophy, will lead each discussion. This book celebrates the lives of four philosophers who championed and were instrumental in the revival of virtue ethics during the mid-20th century: G.E.M. Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley and Iris Murdoch. The book explores their view that virtues such as courage, discernment, justice and love are key to living a good life. Meetings will be in Room 3014 of Moore Hall on Tuesdays, March 26, April 2, 9 and 16, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Find form to register

The first 10 people to sign up for each club will receive a free book. Students can earn WMU Signature credit for any book club for which they attend all scheduled meetings. Learn more about the Center for the Study of Ethics in Society and its book clubs.

About the Center for the Study of Ethics in Society

In August 1985, the Center for the Study of Ethics in Society was created after WMU faculty across the curriculum met to discuss their common interests in studying and teaching ethics. Each academic year, the center sponsors 15 to 20 public presentations addressing a wide range of ethical issues. Originally sponsored by WMU’s Graduate College, the center is now housed in the College of Arts and Sciences.

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