Ethics Archives

What Did Jordan Belfort Do to End Up in Prison?

A pair of handcuffed hands sitting outside prison bars.

What did Jordan Belfort do to become a financial criminal? What type of financial crimes did he commit? Though Belfort did many things that were against the law, it was his financial crimes that both enriched him and eventually sent him to prison. So many of Belfort’s business dealings were against federal and state regulations because he invented schemes to hide his transactions from regulatory institutions. Let’s look at the principles upon which Belfort’s firm, Stratton Oakmont, was founded and the crimes he committed under its name.

How to Minimize Social Harms: 3 Inspiring Approaches

A woman feeding a homeless person on the street to avoid social harms.

How should we address social harms such as war and poverty? Do you sense a call to take on such issues in your community or the world? The 2023 book Life Worth Living urges you to adopt a philosophy of life. Oftentimes, such personal life philosophies entail an obligation to minimize social harms such as crime and bigotry. The authors share approaches from Mary Wollstonecraft, James Baldwin, and Confucius. Read more to draw inspiration from these thought leaders.

The Dangerous Effects of Statistics Being Misused

A woman pointing out the effects of statistics on a screen of charts and graphs.

What are the dangerous effects of statistics? How do statistics perpetuate social bias? Believe it or not, dangerous math models can have a grave impact on society. According to Cathy O’Neil, dangerous statistics disproportionately harm poor people, reproduce social bias, and make harmful self-fulfilling prophecies. Learn more about how statistics can negatively affect people and society when used incorrectly.

Big Data Discrimination: Hurting the Poor in Favor of the Rich

An illustrated image of the world surrounded by charts and graphs.

What causes big data discrimination? How do dangerous math models hurt the poor? In Weapons of Math Destruction, Cathy O’Neil argues that dangerous math models disproportionately inflict harm on the poor. This is because they show favoritism towards rich people. Let’s dive deeper into big data’s discrimination problem.

How to Improve Ethics in Mathematics: 3 Methods

A woman sitting at a desk and examining charts and graphs on paper.

How can you use mathematical models ethically? What are ways to regulate industry use of math models? Cathy O’Neil proposes strategies industries and governments can take to limit the harm caused by dangerous mathematical models. She recommends monitoring math models, regulating them, and setting more positive goals for math models. Keep reading to learn more about ethics in mathematics.

Fairness in Economics: 2 Examples That Prove It Doesn’t Work

A person abiding by fairness in economics as they write on a paper with coins.

Should fairness be accounted for in economics? How does fairness conflict with budget optimization? Economist Richard H. Thaler argues that consumers are concerned with fairness and cooperation, even when these concerns get in the way of their budget. This is shown by two experiments: the ultimatum game and the prisoner’s dilemma. Discover why fairness in economics doesn’t always have a happy ending.

Selection Bias in Statistics: 2 Ways Faulty Data Creates Bullshit

Should you trust data-based arguments? How can data go terribly wrong? In Calling Bullshit, Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West investigate how bullshit is created. They assert that it happens when people use faulty data as a basis for their arguments. Specifically, they say selection bias can lead to bullshit because it justifies faulty conclusions based on unrepresentative samples. Read more to understand how selection bias in statistics can lead to harmful misinformation.

Misinterpreting Data: 6 Ways Bullshitters Try to Fool You

Can you distinguish causation from correlation? Do you notice when numbers have been taken out of context? Unfortunately, some people manipulate data to mislead others. In their book Calling Bullshit, Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West argue that bullshitters make invalid inferences from valid data or visually misrepresent valid data in graphic form. Keep reading to learn how bullshitters purposely misinterpret data to draw unjustified conclusions.

Social Stratification and Inequality: Why They’re Not the Same

Is social stratification necessarily a bad thing? How can social stratification cause inequality? As communities grow, stratification (a division between more experienced and less experienced members) will naturally occur. Charles Vogl explains that stratification is a good thing, as it gives members something to aspire to. Discover why social stratification and inequality don’t always mean the same thing.

Can Artificial Intelligence Take Over the World? A Case for Yes

Can artificial intelligence take over the world? Why should we expect AI to use its power to the detriment of humankind? A superintelligent AI would be a powerful entity. But because AI isn’t human, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee that it’ll be smart enough to use its power responsibly. Continue reading to figure out how AI can use its power against humanity.