As a philosopher, Professor Fice’s work centers on how we should think about and address ethical, social, and political issues that concern us. Her work in applied ethics, including public health ethics, develops arguments about what we should do to address issues we care about and why a given approach may or may not be morally justifiable. In her theoretical work, Professor Fice uses the nuances seen in real-world issues to revise how we define concepts, including notions of privilege, autonomy, and more. Her research emphasizes the practical importance of clearly defining conceptual terms, since our understanding of concepts impacts what we think we ought to do when responding to real-world issues. The feminist orientation of her research prioritizes understanding and addressing systems of oppression in theory and practice.

Recently, Professor Fice’s research has focused on ethical issues in the context of homelessness and policy responses to it. Her work clarifies the importance of autonomy while avoiding harmful myths about choice using feminist relational conceptions of autonomy. Professor Fice also studies the ethics of encampment evictions, focusing on the autonomy and dignity of encampment residents.