Institute of Applied Ethics UC: a space for training in the habit of ethical discernment

With the talk “The mission of applied ethics in the 21st century university” by the prominent Spanish philosopher, Adela Cortina, the inauguration of this new interdisciplinary academic unit was held, which will work, among other things, for the development of a university ethics that allows caring for and strengthening trust in university institutions.

PUC Communications.- More than 200 people attended the inauguration ceremony of the Institute of Applied Ethics UC, which was held in the Hall of Honor of Casa Central, and which was attended by the prominent Spanish philosopher, Adela Cortina, academic at the University of Valencia and director of the ETNOR Foundationfor the ethics of business and organizations, who presented his talk «The mission of applied ethics in the XXI century university».

«The Institute contributes and offers an outstanding space to develop interdisciplinary as an academic innovation. The very nature of applied ethics requires interdisciplinary work, both in teaching and in research. Hence, the Institute of Applied Ethics includes the entire Catholic University and seeks to contribute to reflection and practical ethical work, both inside and outside the house of studies, with a focus on thinking and also on doing”, he highlighted. the UC rector, Ignacio Sánchez, in his speech.

The authority also pointed out that “ethical deliberation should be a habit and a characteristic of our students, academics, professionals, officials and the community as a whole. Our distinguished guest, Professor Adela Cortina, has already pointed out that ‘ethics empowers people, gives them the strength to lead a good life’. That is what we want for our professionals, for our students, for our community, that from a good life we ​​are also a real contribution to a good and future society”.

«The Institute contributes and offers an outstanding space to develop interdisciplinary as an academic innovation. The very nature of applied ethics requires interdisciplinary work, both in teaching and in research”, – Ignacio Sánchez, UC rector.

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Trust and university ethics

For his part, the director of the Institute of Applied Ethics, Juan Larraín, invited attendees to reflect on the relationship between university ethics and trust. “There is no doubt that today we are experiencing a great crisis of confidence. Citizens have great mistrust in most institutions, but it is interesting to note that within this context people show some trust in universities. This trust implies an enormous responsibility, it is a capital that we must cultivate and take care of as a true treasure, since it is a fundamental resource to be able to fulfill our mission, ”he said.

«From the Institute we propose to work to develop research ethics, actively promoting a social epistemology together with an epistemology of virtue (…) The development of and commitment to these two types of epistemology would allow us to enhance the integrity of research and Therefore, university ethics in order to maintain and strengthen trust in university institutions”, added Larraín.

The mission of applied ethics

The emeritus professor of Ethics and Political Philosophy of the University of Valencia, Spain, Adela Cortina, was in Chile invited by the Chilean Academy of Social, Political and Moral Sciences, to which she was incorporated as an Honorary Academician. In his conference “The mission of applied ethics in the 21st century university” he highlighted the social importance of ethics and the need to recognize its ability to empower people to opt for “a good life”, beyond just consider it as a discipline that imposes restrictions. He also highlighted the idea of ​​”positive sum”, which refers to the possibility of contributing from the dialogue between different ethical approaches, for example, between Christian ethics and secular ethics, which is typical of a pluralistic society of the 21st century. .

“From the Institute we propose to work to develop research ethics, actively promoting a social epistemology together with an epistemology of virtue”, – Juan Larraín, director of the Institute of Applied Ethics UC.

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Speaking of the dimensions of a general university ethic and the importance of interdisciplinarity, he assured that “there is not a single problem in the university that can be solved from a single discipline”, thus calling for the search for interdisciplinarity. In this sense, he stressed the relevance of linking university ethics with applied ethics from different disciplines, both scientific and humanistic, emphasizing that “we must try to jointly seek the truth” and “put all our knowledge at the service of the people”.

• Access the complete speech of Juan Larraín, director of the Institute of Applied Ethics here
• Check the photos of the event here.

Inauguration of the Institute of Applied Ethics UC on YouTube: