Developmental Ethics and the Question of “Worthwhile” Development

In this episode of the Asian Ethnology Podcast, Ben Dorman speaks with Benjamin Huffman about the FIRE Program (First Year Innovation & Research Experience) and its efforts to encourage students to think critically and ethically about development, social change, and human flourishing from the very beginning of their university education.

Huffman discusses how the program combines interdisciplinary learning, research experience, and ethical reflection to move beyond narrow economic understandings of development. Drawing on examples from international development, philosophy, and community engagement, he explores questions such as: What makes development genuinely “worthwhile”? Who benefits from modernization and economic growth? And how can students cultivate ethical responsibility in a globally interconnected world?

The conversation also examines the role of empathy, critical thinking, and cross-cultural understanding in higher education, as well as the challenges of preparing students to engage thoughtfully with complex global issues. Recorded in conjunction with Huffman’s lecture at Nanzan University, this episode offers an insightful introduction to developmental ethics through the lens of innovative undergraduate education.

Link to the Development Ethics Toolkit