Is teaching ethics actually… unethical? That was the deliberately provocative question posed to Trinity students this week by alumnus Rahul Mehan (Class of 2025), who returned to school to put ThinkSoc through its philosophical paces.
Rahul, now in his second year studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at the University of Oxford, delivered a talk entitled Why Teaching Ethics is the Most Immoral Profession, inviting students to question some of the ideas they encounter in the classroom rather than simply accepting them.
Starting with utilitarianism and the origins of ethical thought, Rahul explored how moral frameworks are constructed and, importantly, what happens when we try to apply them to the complexities of everyday life. Can theories developed hundreds of years ago really tell us how to behave today? And how useful is an ethical framework if it falls apart when confronted with everyday decisions?
It was fertile ground for ThinkSoc, Trinity’s student philosophy and ideas society for Sixth Form. The interactive session quickly developed into a lively discussion, with students testing Rahul’s arguments, challenging their own assumptions and exploring perspectives beyond those covered in the A Level curriculum.
Upper Sixth student Tomi particularly enjoyed the debate: “I really enjoyed the interactive nature of the talk and Rahul’s tackling of a controversial topic.”
Tom, also in the Upper Sixth, agreed: “It was a refreshing change in perspective on ethics. I was particularly interested by his ideas that ethical frameworks and concepts can be impractical and often fail in everyday life, especially when considering theories formulated hundreds of years ago.”
Rahul also shared something rather more practical: his experience of applying to Oxford, with advice for students considering the university themselves.
It was wonderful to welcome Rahul back to Trinity so soon after leaving, and to see a former student returning not simply to share what he has learnt, but to get the next generation thinking, questioning and debating too.
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