Exploring Big Ideas: The Ethics Olympiad

On Friday, 7 November, a select number of our Year 7-9 students took part in the Ethics Olympiad incursion, engaging in a day of deep thinking, collaboration and philosophical inquiry. 

The Ethics Olympiad is a unique and enriching competition that brings together students from different schools to engage in thoughtful, respectful dialogue about complex ethical issues. Rather than debating to win, participants collaborate to explore moral dilemmas, applying critical thinking, empathy and philosophical reasoning. It’s a celebration of ethical literacy and civil discourse, where students learn to listen deeply, articulate their views clearly and consider diverse perspectives. 

Our team of “eth-letes” Bowen Li (Year 7), Clara Chan (Year 8), Lily Gaunson (Year 8), Fenice Ong (Year 8) and Methuki Don (Year 9), spent weeks preparing, discussing challenging ethical case studies and developing their communication, collaboration and reasoning skills. 

During the event, they demonstrated exceptional teamwork and curiosity, presenting well-reasoned arguments and engaging in constructive discussion. Their thoughtful approach and composure earned them a Special Mention from the judges, a wonderful recognition of their commitment to ethical thinking and meaningful dialogue. 

“The Ethics Olympiad helped me open my eyes to the world of philosophy in a fun, engaging way. Not only was it competitive, but discussing the cases with people from different year levels let me understand different people’s perspectives. It also challenged my morals, and made me think hard about how I stood in certain situations!” – Fenice Ong 

The Ethics Olympiad experience encouraged students to think deeply, listen respectfully and engage with ideas that matter, strengthening the skills that sit at the heart of The Knox School’s learning journey.