Welcome to an exploration of ethical decision-making in Washington, D.C. This course delves into the complex moral dilemmas faced by leaders in our nation's capital, where the weight of legislation, regulation, and trade policy resonates around the world. We will examine real-world scenarios with live case studies, from historical events, to contemporary issues, like NATO's security posture and efforts to keep Iran from developing a nuclear bomb to near-term future scenarios such as the role of AI in national security, all while dissecting the ethical frameworks underpinning these decisions. You don't need any background in ethics or philosophy to be successful in the class, but rather an interest in policy and a perspective (that you are willing to challenge) on major policy issues and decisions. The ability to evaluate decisions and view both sides of an issue is especially important in a place like Washington DC where understanding where others are coming from will help you build a career here - or anywhere. This course is offered in Washington, DC to students enrolled in the Bing Stanford in Washington program only.
5 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit · GER: WAY-ER
Welcome to an exploration of ethical decision-making in Washington, D.C. This course delves into the complex moral dilemmas faced by leaders in our nation's capital, where the weight of legislation, regulation, and trade policy resonates around the world. We will examine real-world scenarios with live case studies, from historical events, to contemporary issues, like NATO's security posture and efforts to keep Iran from developing a nuclear bomb to near-term future scenarios such as the role of AI in national security, all while dissecting the ethical frameworks underpinning these decisions. You don't need any background in ethics or philosophy to be successful in the class, but rather an interest in policy and a perspective (that you are willing to challenge) on major policy issues and decisions. The ability to evaluate decisions and view both sides of an issue is especially important in a place like Washington DC where understanding where others are coming from will help you build a career here - or anywhere. This course is offered in Washington, DC to students enrolled in the Bing Stanford in Washington program only.
Offered in Autumn 2025 at Stanford University.