The city of San Francisco and philanthropists payed around $105,000 to fulfill the dream of a 5-year old with leukemia to be Batman for a day. Was this contribution morally permissible, given that the money could have been used elsewhere to much greater effect? Should we allocate our money to produce the greatest good for the greatest number? A case borrowed from the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl.

Is a new law in Belgium that allows terminally ill children to choose euthanasia morally defensible?

Should efforts be made to preserve traditional cultures in the face of globalization? How do we distinguish between a cultural practice worth saving and a practice that should be eradicated?

First, a zoo in Denmark euthanized a healthy giraffe because it did not have room for it and it did not want it to spend the next 20 years suffering. Second, Denmark has outlawed ritual animal slaughter methods required by Muslim and Jewish tradition because they are inhumane. Should animal rights ever take precedence over religious rights?

To what extent is it permissible to talk loudly on your cell phone on an otherwise quiet subway ride? Is it appropriate to be upset over someone talking on their cell phone in public spaces? To what extent are we obligated to follow social norms?

HIPAA prevents family members from accessing health information about patients over 18. Some have proposed making an exception for family members of patients with serious mental illness. Should concerns about mental competency outweigh a patient's right to privacy?

Administrators prevented the school newspaper from running an editorial about being an atheist at a predominantly Christian public school. Should the school be able to censor material that is not defamatory or otherwise illegal? Is religious activity on school campus morally permissible?

13 deaths have been linked to faulty ignition switches in G.M. cars, a problem which some employees knew about beforehand. Who should be held responsible for the deaths? When workers collaborate on a product, to what extent are individual workers responsible for addressing a moral problem? What is the moral difference between deliberate action and deliberate inaction?

Given that residents in food deserts do not have access to healthy foods, do owners of stores located in food deserts have a responsibility to sell lower-cost items? Do for-profit businesses have a responsibility to maximize their community's well being?

Is being a fan of the NFL football morally defensible? Critics state the NFL treats players as faceless commodities, and football is a potentially dangerous and degrading activity. Supporters stress the importance of players' consent.

Many organizations that rely on donors for funding wonder whether it is morally permissible to accept gifts from donors who acquired their resources through questionable practices or engage in immoral projects. When, if ever, should nonprofits turn down donations that could help them realize morally good ends?

Nate wants to sing along to a popular song on the radio, but realizes the song has some sexist lines. Would singing the song amount to approval of the sexist sentiments the song reflects? When is self-censorship morally appropriate?

Callie joined the high school cheerleading team despite being confined to a wheelchair due to her cerebral palsy. However, the school urged her mother to sign agreement restricting her to the sidelines due to safety concerns. Is this discrimination? Do safety concerns outweigh Callie's wishes to join the cheerleading squad?

Maria wonders whether it is morally acceptable to buy cheap products manufactured by people working for low wages in bad conditions. Are we morally obligated to ensure that none of our actions indirectly harm others?

Vicky chooses not to give money to a homeless beggar because she worries that he will use the money to buy drugs or alcohol and wonders how he became homeless in the first place. Is her choice morally justified? What moral duties do we have to the less fortunate?