Ethics in Academia
How does academia preserve freedom of thought and research in an era of political, economic, and social challenges?
The “Ethics in Academia” conference, held at the Samuel Neaman Institute on February 12, 2025, was organized by Prof. Ali Salzberger (Head of the Ethics Program at the Neaman Institute), Prof. Neta Ziv (Vice President of Tel Aviv University), and Ms. Rinat Klein (Researcher at the Neaman Institute). Leading scholars gathered to discuss the key ethical issues shaping the future of higher education.
“Without abandoning the struggle for the rule of law, we need to strive to address and nurture ethics—which itself is a central component of the rule of law—and attempt to begin within our own small domain: academia.” ~ Prof. Ali Salzberger, Head of the Ethics Program at the Neaman Institute
“Academia, at its best, is a space of values, commitment, and public responsibility. As technology expands at breakneck speed, and while the value-based foundation around us is faltering, the ethical questions we face demand an honest and courageous examination of our own conduct.” ~ Prof. Shimon Marom, Director General of the Samuel Neaman Institute
Key Topics Discussed:
- Principles of Academic Ethics
- Ethics and Academic Freedom – What are the boundaries of academic freedom in higher education institutions?
- The Role of Academia in the Public Sphere – How can academia balance public responsibility with institutional autonomy?
- The Ethics of Philanthropy in Academia – How does private funding impact research and teaching? Does it strengthen academia or threaten its independence? Should academic institutions scrutinize the sources of their funding?
Conference Participants:
The event featured a distinguished panel of scholars and professionals, including:
- Prof. Shimon Marom, Director General of the Samuel Neaman Institute
- Prof. Noah Drezner, Columbia University (USA)
- Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Head of the Ethics Department at the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization
- Prof. Yani Nevo and Prof. Rivka Carmi, Ben-Gurion University
- Prof. Daniel Statman, Prof. Daniel Sperling, Mr. Gideon Herscher, Dr. Tammy Harel Ben Shahar, University of Haifa
- Prof. David Heyd, Hebrew University
- Prof. Boaz Golany, Technion
- Prof. Sibylle Heilbrunn, Kibbutzim College of Education
- Dr. Efrat Ben Shoshan-Gazit
- Dr. Tali Yariv-Mashal and Adv. Galia Feit, Tel Aviv University
- Mr. Ariel Weiss, former CEO of the Rothschild Foundation (Yad Hanadiv)
- Adv. Basha’er Fahoum-Jayoussi, Neubauer Foundation
The discussions provided diverse perspectives on the intersections of ethics, research, philanthropy, and social impact.
The conference underscored critical ethical challenges that will continue to shape academic discourse. A position paper summarizing key insights and conclusions on philanthropy in academia will be published soon.
A Call for Dialogue:
One key message emerged: academia cannot operate in isolation. It must foster open dialogue with society, the state, and philanthropic institutions to thrive while safeguarding its fundamental values.
We welcome your thoughts! What do you see as the main ethical challenges facing academia today?
