Scholars shape global conversations on fairness, ethics, governance
Four Virginia Tech experts will discuss their research findings and scholarship, from moral role-playing and political philosophy to insights into how society can share resources fairly, on the international stage this month.
They are part of a lineup of more than 250 academic professionals who will speak about their work during a meeting of the PPE Society in London. The society is an international organization for philosophy, politics, and economics research. This is its first conference held outside of the United States.
“The meeting presents an excellent opportunity to facilitate and strengthen global research collaborations in this interdisciplinary field of study,” said Michael Moehler, professor and founding director of the Kellogg Center for Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Virginia Tech. Moehler will be one of the speakers.
Learn about what each Virginia Tech expert will discuss:
Moral role-playing: How does society navigate moral and political conflicts? Try moral role-playing. It’s a practical approach to moral disagreements that encourages people to take on different perspectives or roles for understanding a situation. Moehler will discuss this approach and how it can be used in education, politics, or public discourse to rebuild social trust and create healthier democratic societies.
All is fair in allocation: The way that resources are allocated fairly in communities is a common moral question. In his current book project, Gil Hersch, associate professor of philosophy, aims to provide guidance on how people can fairly distribute resources in society when there isn’t enough to go around. This may include everything from inheritance disputes and immigration visas to charter school vouchers.
The moral right to govern: It’s an age-old question. Do states have the moral right to govern? The question and its answer are central to research by Fabian Wendt, associate professor of political science. He’ll discuss his work on the subject and his response to John Simmons, a philosophical anarchist.
Sharing fairly: Research by Nicolaus Tideman, a professor of economics, dives into the idea of sharing the world’s resources fairly. In his study of Georgism, an economic theory, he claims that while people have rights to themselves, they also have equal rights to the earth. This means dividing the value of natural opportunities — such as land, water, and the atmosphere — among all people.