Question

what ethical obligations do american undergraduate and graduate students have (including obligations to themselves) when deciding whether to actively protest unethical investments at their colleges and universities?

Answer 1

There are ethical obligations as follows:

1. First ethical obligation is to carefully protest unethical investments if it increases the cost of studies and education goes out of the reach of the common people as a consequence of the increase in investment. It is as per the utilitarian approach of ethics. Here, the ethical obligation on the part of students is to to look at the broader picture and benefits of the majority in the society.

2. Second ethical obligation towards themselves, is to get best education so that they can serve the society better. So, reasonable investment should not be protested as the intention of the action is to deliver immediate and necessary benefits and quality to the existing students. It is as per the deontological approach of ethics.