2022-2023: Beneficence: Practicing an Ethics of Care

Beneficence means to do good-to practice kindness, generosity, and charity toward others. It means actively promoting and safeguarding the well-being of others because it is morally right and because you care.

Recent years have produced inspiring examples of beneficence as well as alarming manifestations of polarization and harm. In these challenging times, how should we think about our responsibilities to care for ourselves, for people that we know and love, and for others whom we don't know, disagree with, or have been harmed by? How are these responsibilities linked, in theory and in practice?

If we aspire to practice beneficence and care within our personal, public, and professional lives, how can we translate these values into actions? How might we increase our capacity for care and compassion? What are some barriers to practicing care for self and others within complex and dynamic relationships and social systems?

The Mudd Center's 2022-23 program will harness the wisdom of prominent and innovative thinkers whose work addresses concepts and practices of care. In addition to our traditional public lectures, this year the Mudd Center's program will include an interactive series of events - CareLab - that will personalize our year-long exploration of beneficence and care.

Go to the Beneficence Series page to access recordings of all the lectures.

Public Lectures

Helen Y. Weng, Ph.D.

"Intersectional Neuroscience: Bringing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the Neuroscience of Meditation"
Thursday, September 22, 2022, 5:00pm
Stackhouse Theater
Access the recording

CareLabs

CareLab: Ross Gay, Ph.D.

"We Kin: Lessons of Care from the Garden"
Mudd Center Partnership with the Harte Center for Teaching and Learning
Thursday, August 25, 2022, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Virtual Webinar (Fall Academy)

CareLab: Megan Mueller, Ph.D.

"Compassion and Connection Across Species: The Psychology of Human-Animal Relationships"
Wednesday, November 9, 2022, 5:00pm
Northen Auditorium
Museum Menagerie reception immediately following in Watson Gallery

CareLab: Kyle Bass

Screening of Citizen James and playwright talkback
Tuesday, February 14, 2023, 5:00pm
Stackhouse Theater