About The Center for Practical Ethics
Our mission is to cultivate civility in public discourse and to provide solutions to real-world policy problems.
Ethics has been a guiding discipline for more than 3,000 years. Philosophers have long explored how individuals can rise above self-interest, engage in thoughtful decision-making, and act with integrity. At The Center for Practical Ethics, we continue this tradition by addressing contemporary ethical challenges through a blend of academic research, civil discourse, ethics education, and policy guidance.
From corporate practices and polarized politics to artificial intelligence and environmental sustainability, the ethical challenges of today demand holistic thinking and practical solutions. Decisions in business, government, education, and communities must be guided by ethical principles, as these choices shape not only immediate outcomes but their broader societal implications.
The Center bridges academic thought and real-world challenges by connecting a national network of experts with leaders in business, government, and education. We equip decision-makers to consider choices through a sophisticated ethical lens, helping them navigate complex issues with integrity.
Our growing portfolio of programs, partnerships, and initiatives extends across industries and communities, anchored by our home institution, the University of Mississippi. Our approach is centered around three main pillars:
Developing Civility | Building Skills for a Healthy Democracy
Through guided public events and training programs, we model and facilitate civil discourse, raising the capacity of individuals and communities to engage in difficult yet productive conversations. Our initiatives equip people with the skills needed for constructive disagreement, compromise, and collaborative solutions.Ethics Education | Empowering Citizens to Act with Integrity
Our academic programs bring the ancient discipline of ethics into modern applications. By deepening ethical understanding and expanding leadership models, we help individuals develop the skills needed for character-building and effective discourse, ultimately preparing them to make thoughtful, ethical decisions in their personal and professional lives.Policy Guidance | Providing Expertise to Solve Ethical Problems
As a consultancy, we leverage our national network of experts to provide tailored, actionable guidance for businesses, organizations, and governments facing ethical challenges. Our approach blends broad ethical perspectives with field-specific expertise, helping decision-makers solve complex problems with integrity and foresight.
What is Practical Ethics?
Practical ethics is, in short, ethics in action. It focuses on the moral aspects of real-world issues and decisions by applying ethical theories and principles to situations in order to determine the right course of action.
Dealing with a wide range of topics, it includes such questions as the moral implications of certain technologies, the ethics of healthcare and medicine, the morality of war and violence, and the ethics of business and economics. Practical ethics is concerned with the everyday moral problems that people face and the ways in which we can make moral decisions that are just and fair.
Meet Our Team
-
Deborah Mower, Ph.D.
Director, The Center for Practical Ethics
Professor of Philosophy and
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Hume Bryant Lectureship in Ethics,
Department of Philosophy and ReligionDeborah S. Mower is the founding Director of The Center for Practical Ethics and the inaugural Associate Professor of Ethics at the University of Mississippi. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE) and the Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization (PLATO), and is part of the Research Network for the National Institute for Civil Discourse. Specializing in moral psychology, applied ethics, public policy, and moral education, her work focuses on moral sensitivity, conviction, and civility.
-
Ethan Davis
Assistant Director, The Center for Practical Ethics
Assistant Professor of PracticeEthan Davis is the Assistant Director of The Center for Practical Ethics. He holds an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Mississippi, with a focus on ethics and political philosophy. After graduate school, he worked in Washington, D.C., with nonprofits and advocacy groups on public education and policy. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Society for Ethics Across the Curriculum, and the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics, he also serves as a judge for the annual Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl national competition.
-
Brett King
Operations Coordinator,
The Center for Practical EthicsBrett King is the Operations Coordinator II at The Center for Practical Ethics, where he provides robust financial and logistical support. Specializing in operational policies and procedures, he has authored standard operating procedures that streamline processes and drive organizational growth. Joining the Center early in its development, Brett has played a pivotal role in its significant expansion. Known for his readiness to assist and his commitment to effective support, he finds fulfillment in the positive impact of his contributions.
-
Nathan Oakes, Ph.D.
Director of Education and Student Programs, The Center for Practical Ethics
Assistant Professor of PracticeNathan Oakes is the Project Administrator for The Center for Practical Ethics. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Arizona where he specialized in ancient philosophy, especially the ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology of Plato and the Hellenistic schools. He is a longtime volunteer and leader of youth programming for the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi. He coordinates various programs for TCPE, especially student and educational programs, and provides general administrative support.