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NEWS RELEASE

02-19-03

Contacts:
Alex Tuckness, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, (515) 294-8910
Dave Gieseke, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, (515) 294-7742
Kevin Brown, News Service, (515) 294-8986

IOWA STATE PROFESSOR RECEIVES HARVARD ETHICS FELLOWSHIP

AMES, Iowa -- An Iowa State University political science professor has been awarded a Faculty Fellowship in Ethics at Harvard University's Center for Ethics and the Professions, Cambridge, Mass.

Alex Tuckness, assistant professor of political science, will be at Harvard during the 2003-04 academic year. During his stay, he will work on his next book project, "Principles of International Justice." He has published two other books.

The new book will look at contemporary ethical issues and decisions nations must make. Tuckness' study will examine when one nation should intervene in another's internal politics or policies based on moral or ethical reasons, why such action is or isn't permissible, and when a nation should be obligated to intervene.

A major portion of Tuckness' book project will be to suggest a way to "steer a course between two extreme paths." One path is for nations to abandon all ethical discourse. The other is to pursue ethical goals without accounting for human fallibility.

"My goal is to have principles that would avoid both of those extremes," said Tuckness.

Fellows are selected for the quality of achievements in their fields of specialization and ability to benefit from work in the center; the contributions they are likely to make in higher education through teaching and writing about ethical issues; and the probable significance and relevance of their proposed research to the center.

The Harvard Center for Ethics and the Professions encourages teaching and research about ethical issues in public life and the professions. The resident fellowship supports outstanding teachers and scholars who want to develop their ability to address questions of moral choice in such areas as business, education, government, law and medicine.

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