International ethicist visits UNC

New York Times Magazine columnist Randy Cohen introduced himself as, at best, an accidental ethicist in a presentation given on ethical dilemmas Tuesday evening.

The presentation was sponsored by N.C. Hillel and the Parr Center for Ethics in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Cohen's column, "The Ethicist," fields questions from readers on how to handle moral dilemmas. In his speech, Cohen set forth his own views on conditions necessary for ethical behavior today.

With no formal training or credentials in philosophy or ethics, Cohen proposed that his background as a writer might serve him well.

"I actually have to make a reasoned case," he said.

Cohen has won three Emmy Awards for his comedic television writing on "Late Show with David Letterman."

He also serves as the ethics columnist for the Times of London, and wrote the book "The Good, the Bad, & the Difference: How to Tell Right from Wrong in Everyday Situations," based on his columns.

In his dealings with the column, Cohen said he receives three general questions.

The first and most common question concerns whether people should come forward when they know of wrongdoing.

"There are absolutely times when one has a duty to come forward," said Cohen, citing recent conflicts in the Catholic Church as a failure to that duty.

Readers also write in with propositions of intended wrongdoing, desiring to know the morality of their future actions.

"I'm thinking of stealing a car, cramming the trunk with liquor and fireworks, driving to the beach and shooting a guy," said Cohen, giving a hypothetical case.

He noted that there is redemption in the act of seeking permission to do things we know are wrong.

"Each of us wants to see ourselves as an essentially decent human being," he said.

Cohen also addressed the distinction between ethics and politics, which he considers nonexistent. He added that people are not isolated and must create civic institutions.

"Ethics is not just what we do in a moment of crisis. ... Ethics also represents itself as civic obligations," he said.

To be ethical in our society, Cohen said, conditions must be set up to encourage honesty.

"You have to work to create conditions where good behavior is possible."

If people are given the opportunity to act morally, they will take it, he said. Cohen cited transparency of actions and the categorical imperative as necessary but insufficient approaches to ensuring ethical behavior. "They're meant to be tools of thought, of perception, not rules," he said.

Cohen said that to determine whether an action is ethical, one must consider the community as a whole.

"Now, I much more think of ethics as the practice of civic virtue."

Contact the A&E Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.