Bitesize ethics Christmas 2026
It's the Most Ethical Time of the Year
Tutor: Alberto Giubilini
Tuesday, 15 December 2026, 12:35 - 13:20
Christmas is that time of the year when we are supposed to be kinder, more generous, more forgiving. We donate more money to charity, we visit relatives whose existence we’re not even sure about throughout the rest of the year, and we try to let go of the small resentments that occupy our mind from January to November. It is almost as if there was a special set of moral principles governing Christmas time, and which we are free to ignore throughout the rest of the year. What changes in our set of moral principles and rules during this special time? Do different moral principles or theories become salient? Or do moral principles stay the same as in normal time, but in a context of scaled up expectations living up to them requires doing something more than usual? We will examine possible answers and suggest that reflecting upon the nature of our special moral obligations around Christmas could reveal a lot about ourselves and our moral landscape in “normal times”.
Making a list, checking it twice: Does Santa make children nice?
Tutor: Kathryn Francis
Wednesday, 16 December 2026, 12:35 - 13:20
Every Christmas, children are reminded that Santa Claus is watching, keeping track of who has been naughty or nice, and rewarding good behaviour with presents. But does believing in Santa actually make children behave better? And is being good in the hope of receiving presents the same as being good for goodness' sake? Drawing on our recent research into children's belief in Santa Claus and prosocial behaviour, this talk will explore the relationship between Christmas traditions and children's moral behaviour. We will consider whether rewards, surveillance, and the promise of presents encourage genuine kindness or simply obedience, and whether adults have a responsibility to foster children's moral understanding rather than just good behaviour. More broadly, what can Santa Claus teach us about how children learn to be good and the role adults play in shaping their morality?
