# Why Ethics Cannot Be Taught

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/doctor-john-patrick-5582517/why-ethics-cannot-be-taught
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/doctor-john-patrick-5582517/why-ethics-cannot-be-taught.md
Podcast: [Doctor John Patrick](https://stenobird.com/podcast/doctor-john-patrick-5582517)
Published: 2026-07-22T17:26:08+00:00
Episode link: https://doctorjohnpatrick.podbean.com/e/why-ethics-cannot-be-taught/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/gzkqht2yftraq2h6/2026-07-22-why-ethics-cannot-be-taught.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/doctor-john-patrick-5582517/episodes/why-ethics-cannot-be-taught
Duration seconds: 2749

## Resource

Join our weekly book club and keep thinking deeply about faith, culture, and truth: 🔗 https://pxllnk.co/bookclubpod Considering college? Explore Augustine College, a one-year classical Christian program in Ottawa that prepares students to think and live faithfully in a secular age: 🔗 https://pxllnk.co/augustinepodcast In this episode, Dr. John Patrick argues that ethics is caught, not taught, drawing on decades of experience teaching medical students in Ottawa. He reflects on the writings of the Apostle Paul, particularly Romans, to show how theology must lead to a renewed mind before genuine ethical living follows, and he contrasts this with the failure of university ethics courses. Dr. John Patrick also discusses Oliver O'Donovan's book The Disappearance of Ethics, Immanuel Kant's moral law within, and Psalm 19 as described by C.S. Lewis as the greatest poem he knew. He touches on the crisis of meaning among young men in the West and China, the role of fathers and mothers in shaping character, and closes with a recommendation of Ephraim Radner's essay on beautiful sermons and Michael O'Brien's novel Island of the World. 🎬 Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/LCWnyZHAs0Y // LINKS // Website: https://www.johnpatrick.ca/ Podcast: https://doctorjohnpatrick.podbean.com/ Biblical Literacy Quiz: https://www.johnpatrick.ca/meaning-metaphor-and-allusion/ Recommended Reading list: https://www.johnpatrick.ca/book-list/ Ask Doctor John: https://www.johnpatrick.ca/ask/ LINKS: https://beacons.ai/doctorjohnpatrick

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## Transcript

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