In the age of generative artificial intelligence (genAI), many faculty find themselves in an “unsettled middle,” seeing both potential benefits and real risks in the technology (Basgier & Wilkes, 2025). This middle space can be generative for ethical discernment. This workshop will introduce participants to a practice of writing to discern. Based on pragmatist ethical philosophy, the practice centers on writing about the values that form the basis of our ethical commitments. When left unwritten, values can lead to conflict. When made explicit, they facilitate open “ethical deliberation” about our commitments and the tradeoffs we are willing to make (Watson et al., 2025, n.p.). By engaging in this practice of ethical discernment, faculty across disciplines can guide their students towards systematic reflections on situated use and situated refusal of genAI so they can adjust practices as necessary to better align with their values.
Presenter: Dr. Christopher Basgier, PhD (Director of University Writing, Auburn University)
Friday, February 6 | 3:00 – 4:00 pm MST
