CASE Library
Explore The Issues that Matter.
We excitedly invite you to browse, search, and explore our newly redesigned library of over 300 case studies which render some of the most complex and controversial moral and political issues of our time. These cases were formerly used for official NHSEB competitions at the Regional, Divisional, and National Championship levels. They are freely available for public use under Creative Commons licenses.
The NHSEB Case Library is an excellent tool for competitive preparation, internal or intramural competition, or beyond the context of the Ethics Bowl activity completely—as a classroom resource for Grades 9-12 and beyond.
Featured Cases
NAVIGATING THE LIBRARY
NHSEB’s Case Library is now fully browsable by individual case, or by Case Set—using the filters below. Or, if you already know a bit about what you’re looking for, the entire library of over 300 Ethics Bowl cases is newly indexed, referenced, and searchable by title, topic, keyword, year, and category. Each individual case entry contains the full text of the case and discussion questions as they originally appeared for competitive use, all references assembled in hyperlinked footnotes, and additional contextual resources curated by NHSEB HQ.
CASE SET COLLECTION
REGIONAL CASE SETS
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2017-2018 | 2016-2017 | 2015-2016 | 2014-2015 | 2013-2014 | 2012-2013
National CASE SETS
2023-2024 | 2022-2023 | 2021-2022 | 2020-2021 | 2019-2020 | 2018-2019
2017-2018 | 2016-2017 | 2015-2016 | 2014-2015 | 2013-2014 | 2012-2013
FIND AN ETHICS BOWL CASE
ATTRIBUTION AND CITATION
All National High School Ethics Bowl cases are the intellectual property of the Parr Center for Ethics, and all are freely available for public use under Creative Commons licenses once retired from use in NHSEB competitions. This library represents thousands of hours of work from our Contributing Authors, Editors, and others. Please do not reproduce NHSEB cases or sets—in part or in whole—without attribution, or modify the text of individual cases or sets. If you reproduce or make reference to NHSEB cases from this library (e.g., in classroom materials, academic papers, etc.), please attribute and/or cite those materials:
National High School Ethics Bowl (Ed.), <YEAR>. “<Case Title>.” National High School Ethics Bowl Case Library. UNC Parr Center for Ethics: Chapel Hill, NC. http://nhseb.org/case-library
Browse The Library
Man’s Search for Meaning
At the beginning of the second world war, Viktor Frankl was already one of the most eminent psychiatrists in Austria. By 1942, Austria was under control of the Nazis and Frankl, who was a Jew, was in immediate danger of deportation to a concentration camp. The American Consulate offered Frankl a visa to come to the US. There he could live safely and continue his important research. However, visas were not offered to his aging parents. What obligations do we have to our parents? What obligations do we have to our work if it affects others?
#ExposeTheAltRight?
In August 2017, the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, VA turned violent, and sparked controversy over the white nationalist, alt-right, and KKK ideologies that many demonstrators espoused. On social media, photos of the demonstrations were widely circulated and @YesYoureRacist began to gather and release the names of right-wing demonstrators in the photographs using the hashtag #ExposeTheAltRight. The photos, with identifying names and hometowns, were retweeted tens of thousands of times and demonstrators faced real-life consequences. What, if any, right to privacy does someone who attends a public event have? This practice, called "doxing" currently takes place related to many different issues and events. Under what conditions, if any, is it morally permissible?
Eminent Domain
In many developed countries, governments can claim the power of eminent domain in order to seize private property for public use. Under what conditions is it appropriate to seize property from someone against their will? And how should the government best determine just compensation for such property?
Male Circumcision
In the US, male circumcision is very common. For some religions, male circumcision is an important initiation rite. And some proponents stress its medical benefits. However, others claim that these medical benefits are overblown and that it is morally wrong as a result. Still others argue that it is morally wrong whether or not it has medical benefits.
Paying for High Test Scores
US students often lag behind their peers on international tests in science and math. Recently some have proposed that cash incentives to students and/or teachers for higher test scores can help solve this problem. These might be funded by public or private sources. But there are many ethical controversies surrounding the practice
No Fly Lists
The US FBI has maintained a No Fly List since shortly after 9/11. As of 2016, there were approximately 81,000 people on the list, though only 1,000 of those were US persons. Some argue that the list is an unjustified violation of civil liberties, since a person need not be convicted of a crime to be added to the list. The list also can lead to false positives. However, the FBI's Terrorist Screening Center argues that it is an important counterterrorism measure.
Wool and Leather
Xi does not eat meat because of its link to the suffering and death of animals. But she isn't sure if she can still wear animal products, like wool and leather, ethically. What if they are second-hand? What if they are environmentally responsible than their alternatives?
Confederate Monuments
What roles do Confederate monuments play in American society and public spaces—are they valuable or problematic? Some Americans think that they should remain as they are in public spaces, while others argue that they should be moved or destroyed.
Oh, SNAP!
SNAP provides US citizens who have very little or no income with assistance covering food costs. Some have advocated reforming the SNAP program so that it cannot be used to purchase unhealthy foods, such as soda. Soda is not necessary and it may increase public health costs. However, others argue that SNAP beneficiaries ought to retain their autonomy in food choices.
Dry Wedding
Aparna is attending Mary's wedding. No alcohol is being served so Aparna has brought a flask. The day before the wedding, Aparna discovered that Mary struggles with substance abuse. When Mary sees the flask and grabs it from Aparna, asking for a sip, Aparna does not know what to do.
Electoral College in Question
The founders of the USA adopted the Electoral College as the system of choosing the president. People now ask if it is still appropriate. Proponents argue that it protects against the election of unqualified candidates and that it guarantees that larger states cannot exercise tyranny over smaller states. Detractors argue that its origins undermine its use and that it leads to the overrepresentation of the interests of smaller states.
Sperm of the Dead
A recent widow wants to have a child with her deceased husband's sperm. Some of his family members are uneasy about this and argue that she does not own or have a right to his sperm. Husband and wife had previously agreed that they would like to have a child together. How relevant should their prior conversations be in this decision? How relevant should his family's opinion be? Would it make a difference if her husband's religious beliefs precluded organ donation after death?
HR Confidential
A HR representative knows an employee of their company has a record of reports of sexual harassment and is seeking employment at a friend's company. Should the HR employee illegally inform their friend of information that they would not otherwise have access to? Is it acceptable to violate company rules to bring about a morally desirable outcome? Is it fair to alter behavior towards someone accused of something even if they aren't found guilty?
Losing Admission to Harvard
Harvard recently rescinded several students' admission due to their posting inappropriate content on social media. Should students' social media presence play a role in the college admissions process? Should offensive social media use lead to rescinding admission? If so, how should we decide what is offensive enough? And how should the line between public and private social media be drawn?
Contributing to Gentrification
Dave wants to move into an up-and-coming urban neighborhood but is concerned that he will contribute to gentrification and the displacement of established residents and communities. Assuming that gentrification does directly cause displacement, should Dave feel guilty if he chooses to move into this neighborhood? Does anyone have a right to live in a particular neighborhood?
Science Unfair
Valentina and Gerald are paired up for a science project, but Gerald is uninterested and unprepared. Valentina does not want to jeopardize her grade so she asks Gerald not to contribute anything significant to the project and he consents. Is academic laziness ethically problematic? What if Gerald wants to contribute to the project? Should the teacher know about this agreement?
Appearance at the Office
Maria's parents think that she would be more respected and appreciated at her new job if she bought new clothes and spent more time and money on her appearance. Maria has little interest in and money for this. She also resents the gender roles that govern workplace politics and expectations. But she does want recognition for her work. Should Maria follow her parent's advice? How far is it appropriate for an individual to go when modifying their behavior to follow norms they consider unjust?
Questions of Loyalty
The Prime Minister of Singapore recently criticized citizens who would leave Singapore at the drop of a hat in times of hardship or for better opportunities. He argued that they have a debt to the nation for all the benefits they had enjoyed through citizenship. Do we have moral duties to contribute to our nation? What is morally good or morally bad about having a sense of loyalty to country?
The Cull
In 2015, Ann Arbor, MI implemented a deer cull in an effort to reduce car accidents, mitigate damage to local flora, and to stop the spread of chronic wasting disease. Those who oppose the cull argue that these are not important enough to merit the cost of the cull or the killing of innocent animals. When, if ever, do benefits to humans outweigh harms to non-human animals like deer? Is culling the most humane way to address overpopulation?
Smokers Need Not Apply
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the US but prevalence of smoking is decreasing. However, this decline is not equal across various groups within the US. For several reasons, some employers are adopting anti-tobacco hiring policies, especially in healthcare settings. These policies disproportionately affect minority groups that have relatively higher smoking rates. Is it morally permissible to discriminate on the basis of tobacco use? How much control should employers have over (potential) employees' lives?