Ethics at Notre Dame Symposium

The Ethics at Notre Dame Symposium (ENDs) is a biennial thematic conference focused on normative ethics, hosted at the University of Notre Dame. Commencing in 2027, this event is free and open to all registrants, with a mission to advance new research on significant themes in ethical theory while providing support and mentorship to scholars, especially those in the early stages of their careers.

Generous backing from Notre Dame’s Institute for Ethics and the Common Good enables ENDs to cover presenter expenses, offer financial assistance grants, provide stipends for guest co-organizers, and award a $5,000 prize for the best paper submitted by an early-career scholar. The conference aims to foster discussions around the theme “Ethics Beyond Action,” with potential topics including moral education, moral virtues and vices, and the moral implications of emotions and perceptions.

The symposium will feature approximately eight to ten speakers, chosen based on the submitted abstracts, each afforded 30 to 45 minutes for their presentations followed by Q&A sessions. Notably, there are no keynote speakers, emphasizing collaborative engagement among participants. The organizing committee will provide feedback on all presentations, aiming to assist scholars in refining their ideas for publication.

Additionally, there are plans to explore the publication of presented papers as book anthologies or journal symposia. The conference encourages submissions from early-career scholars and aims to create an inclusive atmosphere, welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their color, gender, religion, or socioeconomic status. The organizers also seek to ensure accessibility for disabled attendees and have provisions for financial assistance grants for those facing hardship.

ENDs not only facilitates scholarly exchange but also aims to cultivate a supportive environment conducive to intellectual growth and collaboration.