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    About the Center for Ethics

    The Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics seeks to strengthen teaching and research about pressing ethical issues; to foster sound norms of ethical reasoning and civic discussion; and to share the work of our community in the public interest. 

    Widespread ethical lapses of leaders in government, business and other professions prompt demands for more and better moral education. More fundamentally, the increasing complexity of public life - the scale and range of problems and the...

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    Institutional Corruption

    In 2010, Lawrence Lessig launched the Edmond J. Safra Research Lab, a major initiative designed to address fundamental problems of ethics in a way that is of practical benefit to institutions of government and society around the world. As its primary undertaking, the Lab tackled the problem of institutional corruption.

    "Institutional corruption is manifest when there is a systemic and strategic influence which is legal, or even currently ethical, that undermines the institution’s effectiveness by...

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    Auditors

    Abigail Brown's primary project at the Lab is to write a book, using archival firm evidence and other historical methods, to trace the development of the financial statement auditing profession into an entity that could fairly be describes as one suffering from institutional corruption. Parallel to the main book project, she is writing a series of economic articles that develop rigorously the theory that provides the foundation for the book's analysis of qualitative data.... Read more about Auditors

    Obstruction to Truth: Institutional Corruption in Academia

    Academic researchers operate within a unique economy where the goal is to seek and teach the truth about our universe, not to generate profit; indeed, ideas (not money) are the currency of exchange. As such, corruption in this context can be thought of as anything that prevents researchers from discovering the truth or anything that takes away from the public's opinion of the veracity of research findings. Alek Chakroff and Brandi Newell are collaborating to investigate the subtle and often unintentional cognitive biases that can lead researchers away from the truth and, more specifically, towards confirming their own ideas or "pet theories."... Read more about Obstruction to Truth: Institutional Corruption in Academia

    Conflicts of Interest and the Potential and Pitfalls of Disclosure

    Professionals are often influenced by conflicts of interest when they have a personal, often material, interest in giving biased advice. Although disclosure (informing advisees about the conflict of interest) is often proposed as a solution to problems caused by such conflicts, prior research has found both positive and negative effects of disclosure.

    The principal investigator of this project is Sunita Sah. Sunita's interest in disclosure or sunshine policies is to understand when they work and when they do not.... Read more about Conflicts of Interest and the Potential and Pitfalls of Disclosure

    Suggested Timeline

    Sophomore Timeline

    ...
    Sophomore Fall Apply to program
    Sophomore Spring Enroll in Ethics Seminar

    Attend Kissel Lecture and Workshop and other Center events
    Junior Fall

    Participate in Ethics Workshop
    Continue to attend Center events and dinners
    Read more about Suggested Timeline

    Benefactors

    "There is so much in our world that is changing and evolving, and as a result there is a great need to synthesize theoretical ethical understanding and practical wisdom. I am fascinated by the issues the Fellows examine, ranging from questions about social disadvantage, international security, religion in society, and...

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