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Jean Kazez

Jean Kazez teaches philosophy at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She is the author of The Philosophical Parent: Asking the Hard Questions about Having and Raising Children (Oxford University Press) and two previous books. Find out more at kazez.blogspot.com.

Photo of the U.S.-Mexico border fence.

Featured

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14 Jun 2018

Family Separation at the U.S.-Mexico Border

The Trump Administration has proposed a variety of excuses for its policy of separating migrant children from their parents at the border. Do any of them actually hold up?

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World Affairs

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11 Jun 2018

The Real and the Rented

Japan's "rent-a-family" phenomenon raises complex questions about the ethics of deception, reality, and consumerism.

Photo of television static

Roseanne Barr and Samantha Bee: Political Comedy’s Unwritten Rules

The backlashes against Roseanne Barr and Samantha Bee underscore the nuances of offense and political comedy.

6 Jun 2018

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Image of a man alone in a dark computer room

"Incels" and the Right to be Loved

"Incels" argue they are entitled to love, and specifically, to sex. But do their claims really hold up?

4 Jun 2018

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Image of numbers on the lanes of a running track.

For Testosterone Testing in Sports

Though some advocates may shy away from testosterone testing in sports, there could be some compelling reasons for doing so.

29 May 2018

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Image of hurdles on a track.

Against Testosterone Testing in Sports

A major sports association now requires testosterone testing for female athletes. That is a mistake.

24 May 2018

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Opinion: President Trump, Peacemaker?

Is Donald Trump really in the running for the Nobel Peace Prize?

17 May 2018

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Photo of cheerleaders performing at the 2006 Pro Bowl

NFL to Cheerleaders: Down Girl!

Cheerleading has often been seen as problematic for women. The revelation of the NFL's contracts for cheerleaders hasn't changed that.

2 May 2018

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Photo of Charles Murray.

The Return of the Race Debate

A controversial article in The New York Times has revived the debate about the ethics of race, science, and so-called "race realism."

24 Apr 2018

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Who is Welcome at Starbucks?

Two black men walked into a Philadelphia Starbucks to meet a friend. Moments later, the store manager called the police.

23 Apr 2018

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Photo of men's and women's bathroom stall signs

Does Implicit Bias Explain Gender Discrimination?

Is implicit bias the key to understanding gender discrimination, or has the concept been overvalued?

18 Apr 2018

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photograph of an anti-abortion protest

Opinion: Kevin Williamson Is Right (About One Thing)

The former Atlantic columnist's stance on abortion raises an important question: if abortion is murder, why are pro-life activists squeamish about prosecuting the women who seek them out?

11 Apr 2018

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Image of a person putting a handgun into a gun safe.

Does the Right to Self-Defense Give Us a Right to Guns?

Does a right to self-defense guarantee access to firearms?

6 Apr 2018

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When Men Dominate the Film Industry, What’s the Problem?

Pushing equality in the film industry demands looking at exactly what kind of equality is the best to pursue.

29 Mar 2018

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An image of Stormy Daniels speaking at a conference

Opinion: Non-Disclosure Agreements and the Ethics of Paying for Silence

Scandals involving powerful men like Donald Trump and Harvey Weinstein have trained the spotlight on the controversial non-disclosure agreement.

21 Mar 2018

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a Rembrandt drawing of a ritual circumcision

Opposition vs. Prohibition: Should Iceland Ban Circumcision?

Iceland will soon vote on banning circumcision - a move that has stoked controversy among religious communities and society at large.

8 Mar 2018

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An image taken from a Parkland shooting vigil

Opinion: Rethinking Our Massacre Problem

As the Parkland mass shooting once again thrusts guns into the public consciousness, it is time to rethink our approach to gun violence.

20 Feb 2018

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a panorama of a rural Missouri landscape

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and the Ethics of Black Humor

Though critically and commercially successful, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri has concerned some with its brand of black humor.

8 Feb 2018

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Why Give $75 Million to Philosophy?

A wealthy businessman just gifted $75 million to Johns Hopkins' philosophy department. But some philosophers were skeptical of the move.

26 Jan 2018

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An image of a DACA protest in Columbus Circle

Opinion: "Dreamers" Have Been Taken Hostage in the Battle for Trump’s Wall

"Asking for the wall (and so on) is like demanding ransom before freeing someone who’s unconditionally entitled to be free."

23 Jan 2018

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A woman viewing an ultrasound

Womb Transplantation: A Procedure in Need of Defense?

Dallas doctors recently announced the first successful birth resulting from a womb transplant. Critics continue to debate the procedure's ramifications.

3 Jan 2018

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A photo of an academic building at Wilfrid Laurier University

Pronouns and Provocateurs: Wilfrid Laurier University's Free Speech Controversy

A controversy at Canada's Wilfrid Laurier university raises questions about the nature of gender pronouns and free expression in the classroom.

30 Nov 2017

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