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
2023-2024 | 2022-2023 | 2021-2022 | 2020-2021 | 2019-2020 | 2018-2019
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
Operation Paperclip
In the aftermath of World War II, seeking to gain a military advantage over the Soviet Union, United States intelligence smuggled over 1,600 German scientists, engineers, and technicians into the U.S. in a covert programed called Operation Paperclip. Some of these former Nazis were involved in despicable war crimes, yet the operation led to the design of rockets putting America on the moon and might have allowed the United States the edge in the Cold War. Is it ever morally permissible to excuse moral evils for the sake of scientific or social progress?
Formula for Disaster
Shirley runs out of baby formula to feed her newborn and heads to the grocery store. After swiping her card at checkout, the distracted cashier tells her she is good to go. Later, when Shirley checks her bank account, she notices that the grocery store payment did not go through. However, after paying her utility bill upon returning home from the store, Shirley no longer has money to go back and pay for the formula. Is it morally wrong for Shirley to keep the formula? To what extent is one morally responsible for an act done in ignorance?
It’s Corn!
Bt-corn, a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO), is produced to make corn toxic to European corn borer larvae. More broadly, genetic modification produces crops with increased nutritional value and further health benefits that boost quality of life across the world. However, some express concern about unknown health effects of GMOs, as well as potential biodiversity loss their growth prompts. When a specific type of crop (e.g., bt-corn) displaces other strains, different varieties of that crop grow rarer. How should the immediate benefits of GMOs be weighed against future risks posed by a loss of biodiversity?
Trouble on Rocky Top
Following many major sporting upsets, fans of the winning team celebrate victories that result in damages including uprooted goalposts and hospitalized fans. With fines in place to try to prevent such chaos at universities, the act of rushing the field becomes expensive and dangerous for many institutions. But for most fans, it's an experience they'll never forget. To what extent, if at all, are universities and individual fans obligated to curtail participation in these celebrations?
To Pledge or Not to Pledge?
Aria believes the institution of college Greek life is incompatible with her desires to address racial injustice and promote female empowerment. However, she feels the community it could bring would improve her mental heath––maybe she could even use the sorority's substantial audience to promote change from the inside. To what extent is Aria obligated to sacrifice personal satisfaction for the betterment of her community?
Forget Me Not
For sixty years, Joan has been married to Roy. He recently developed severe Alzheimer's and fails to remember her when she visits him. Joan has fallen out of love for him and, instead, has developed romantic interest in her old friend Dennis. What is Joan's moral obligation to her husband, Roy? Is engaging in a relationship with Dennis morally permissible?