The Ethicist

Advice on life’s trickiest situations and moral dilemmas from the philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah. Sign up for the Ethicist newsletter, for Times subscribers only.

Should I Tell My Son That His Best Friend Is Stealing From Him?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on the importance of disclosure and trust among loved ones.
By Kwame Anthony Appiah
Isn’t It Time to Retire Senior Discounts?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on age-related benefits.
By Kwame Anthony Appiah
Should I Let My Grandchild’s Psychiatrist Know My Concerns About Her?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on family boundaries and psychiatric care.
By Kwame Anthony Appiah
I’ve Learned My Sister’s Therapist Is Also a Spiritual Medium. Help!
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on the trouble with merging psychotherapy and spiritualism.
By Kwame Anthony Appiah
I Wrote a Leniency Letter on My Ex’s Behalf. Did I Overstep?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on how to support a loved one who has a different idea of what help looks like.
By Kwame Anthony Appiah
As a White Man, Can I Date Women of Color to Advance My Antiracism?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on interracial dating as a sociopolitical strategy.
By Kwame Anthony Appiah
My Partner Cheated and Said It ‘Didn’t Mean Anything.’ How Should I Feel?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on how to handle emotional manipulation from an unfaithful lover.
By Kwame Anthony Appiah
Is It OK to Read a Newspaper Online When I’ve Stopped Paying for It?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on whether it’s fair to peek behind a publication’s paywall if you’re no longer a subscriber.
By Kwame Anthony Appiah
Does My Wife Need to Know About My Porn Habit?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on self-pleasuring secrets and the pressures of living up to one’s sexual orientation.
By Kwame Anthony Appiah
I’m H.I.V.-Positive but Undetectable. Do Casual Sex Partners Need to Know?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on medical disclosure and marital malaise.
By Kwame Anthony Appiah