Kwame Anthony Appiah

New York, Princeton

NYU Professor and Columnist at The New York Times

b. London. raised Kumasi, Ghana. m. Henry Finder. Prof NYU. Ethicist NYTimes. Topics: Philosophy esp. Ethics, Black Studies. Retweet not endorsement. He/him.

Articles

A Friend Bought Crypto for My Newborn Baby. Do I Have to Hold on to It?

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Kwame Anthony Appiah

My wife and I just had a baby girl. A college friend of ours sent us $175 in Bitcoin as a baby gift. He's a crypto bro and is super-into it, while I, on the other hand, am extremely skeptical. My friend said that I can't sell it until her bat mitzvah (when "it will be at least $1,000," in his words). I believe that there is a decent likelihood that it is worth $0 in 12 years.
Should I Retire if My Co-Workers Are Facing Layoffs?

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Kwame Anthony Appiah

I am a federal employee who is eligible for retirement. I have a job that is intellectually challenging, gives back to the public and is personally rewarding. As federal government employees in my department face potential layoffs, is it ethical for me to defer retirement? There would be no negative impact for me, and I am certain I would be offered other jobs because of my expertise.
Is It Colonialism When Europeans Retire in Cheaper Countries?

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Kwame Anthony Appiah

I see many older Northern Europeans retiring to countries like Portugal or Morocco. And I know that some Americans are doing the same in Latin America. Is it fair to enjoy a different country's sun and cheaper living in retirement, or is this a new, sweet form of colonialism? - Taimaz SzirniksFrom the Ethicist: "Colonialism," historically, happened when a state took over another territory, typically by force or fiat. It's a story about domination backed by state power.
Can I Use A.I. to Look Better Online?

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Kwame Anthony Appiah

4 hours agoA serial paedophile who went on the run for more than 27 years was tracked down thanks to Artificial Intelligence, police have revealed. Richard Burrows, 81, was jailed for 46 years on Wednesday for 97 charges of child sexual abuse while working as a housemaster at a Cheshire boarding school and …
My Boyfriend Has a Husband. Should I Tell Him About Us?

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Kwame Anthony Appiah

I'm a man who's been with my husband for over 35 years. Some 12 years ago, I began a second relationship with another man. I didn't seek it out, but it has deeply enriched my life. I've been open with my husband, and this honesty led to our own understanding about boundaries - what some call ethical nonmonogamy. My struggle: My second partner hasn't told his husband about the nature of our relationship. They have an open arrangement, but the depth and specifics of ours haven't been revealed.
Mi novia no deja de mirar mi teléfono. ¿Deberíamos terminar?

1 month ago | diario.mx | Kwame Anthony Appiah

Soy un hombre de 60 años que está divorciado desde hace ocho años. Desde mi divorcio, no me he vuelto a casar y he terminado dos relaciones importantes debido a problemas de comportamiento y uso de sustancias. Actualmente estoy en una relación de 16 meses con una mujer recién separada. No vivimos juntos, pero pasamos la mayor parte de nuestro tiempo juntos, funcionando como una pareja casada. Estoy empleado en un trabajo mejor pagado y cubro la mayoría de nuestros gastos.
Our Gardener Wants to Avoid Taxes. Should We Pay Him in Cash?

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Kwame Anthony Appiah

Throughout our 55 years of marriage, my husband and I have never once cheated on our taxes. Now the man who mows and trims our lawn has asked us to pay him in cash instead of by check. We have little doubt as to why he has made this request. My husband feels very uncomfortable with this, but I disagree. This man is a landscape service of one and most likely only makes a modest income.
Can Rich Parents Make Special Requests at a Public School?

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Kwame Anthony Appiah

My children attend a public elementary school in one of the country's largest school systems. The school is notably diverse; more than 40 percent of the students are low-income, and nearly 10 percent live in temporary housing, while a sizable minority come from upper income brackets and live in million-dollar homes. The school has a mix of Latino, Black, Asian and white students.
My Husband Has Dementia. Can I Put Him in a Home and Move to Europe?

2 months ago | flipboard.com | Kwame Anthony Appiah

Fortunately, we know how—and by when—to reverse it. While most early signs of dementia are subtle—even borderline undetectable, like those that happen …
My Husband Has Dementia. Can I Put Him in a Home and Move to Europe?

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Kwame Anthony Appiah

My husband of 52 years was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease 10 years ago. Currently I am a full-time caregiver. I hope to place my husband in a memory-care facility soon, so that I can move closer to two of my children and their children, all of whom live in Europe. My husband does not know anything about this yet. My guilt is sharp over "dumping" him in this way, even though he might be safer and more active.