One of the most hotly contested investment practices during the global financial crisis (GFC) was short selling, with the strategy receiving attention approaching histrionic proportions from corporate executives, investors, media, regulators and politicians alike. This paper examines short selling from its theoretical foundations through to current empirical evidence. From this foundation, we examine the ethical considerations of this unorthodox market behaviour and its role in society. In exploring the ethical dimensions of short selling, we examine a number of arguments from both the long and short side of the market and consider whether the central arguments levelled against the strategy are specific to short sellers or whether these issues relate to all market participants.