Heather Reid, professor of philosophy, recently gave a lecture that compared the risk of injuries for ancient Roman gladiators and modern college football players.

Heather Reid, professor of philosophy at Morningside College, recently gave a lecture at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

She was an invited speaker at the McGowan Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility, a program that was founded by King’s College to express the commitment of graduates to mobilize their talents and skills to serve the common good.

Her lecture, titled “College Football’s Gladiators,” compared the risk of injuries for ancient Roman gladiators and modern college football players. She explored the ethical dilemmas surrounding the risk of long-term injury for entertainment purposes and concluded that risks can be justified so long as they have educational value.

Reid is a specialist in ancient philosophy and philosophy of sport. She has published six books related to sports philosophy and the Olympics. She received her master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.