In this episode, we are discussing how to make wise decisions when faced with ethical dilemmas, both in your personal life and in your studies. My guest is Dr. Scott Rae, a distinguished Christian ethicist and professor at the Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. Scott is widely recognized for his work in bioethics, business ethics, and moral philosophy from a Christian worldview. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Ethics from the University of Southern California and has authored or co-authored numerous influential books, including Moral Choices and Beyond Integrity. Rae is also a frequent speaker and consultant on ethical issues facing the church, business, and society.

In this podcast we discuss:

• How Scott first got interested in learning about ethical reasoning, especially related to business ethics and bioethics
• The four ways people answer the “Says who?” question about right and wrong
• Finding common ground with others on ethical issues
• Scott’s very helpful model of ethical decision making applied to three case studies:
  • Navigating your girlfriend’s pregnancy
  • Wrestling with honoring your friend vs. confidentiality at work
  • Dealing with the challenge of plagiarism at school
• Why “inner peace” is not a good guide to ethical decision making
• Why we shout at one another so much in our polarized culture today

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

• Scott Rae, Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics
• Scott Rae, Introducing Christian Ethics: A Short Guide to Making Moral Choices
• Scott Rae and Kenman Wong, Beyond Integrity: A Judeo-Christian Approach to Business Ethics
• Scott Rae and Kenman Wong, Business for the Common Good: A Christian Vision for the Marketplace
• The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity
• The Theology of Work Project
• The Denver Institute for Faith and Work