think of it!: Moral Reasoning with Harvard University's Michael J Sandel

Monday, September 20, 2010

Moral Reasoning with Harvard University's Michael J Sandel

Justice: What's The Right Thing To Do?

a viewing and discussion series

Wednesdays at 2 pm in the Main Library Auditorium
Charleston County Public Library
Main Branch, 68 Calhoun Street
Auditorium, 2nd floor

www.ccpl.org

How many times have you been involved in some matter causing you to ask yourself: "What is the right thing to do?" What makes an action right or wrong? When we say that something is the right thing to do, are we talking about something beyond our own beliefs? What is that something?

For more than thirty years, Harvard undergraduates have been required to take a course in moral reasoning, one that shows how it might be possible to argue convincingly about right and wrong. The most famous of these courses is Michael Sandel's "Justice", which often enrolls more than a thousand students per semester. Now this wildly popular course has been recorded on DVD. In this series, we will watch and discuss six episodes drawn from Sandel's class, covering both philosophical theories of right and wrong and their application to contemporary ethical issues like affirmative action and same-sex marriage.

Your opinion counts. Come and discuss it with scholar and moderator Larry Krasnoff, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy at the College of Charleston.

September 22

"Putting a Price on Life and How to Measure Pleasure"

October 6

"Free to Choose and Who Owns Me?"

October 13

"Hired Guns? and For Sale: Motherhood"

October 27

"What's a Fair Start and What Do We Deserve?"

November 3

"Arguing Affirmative Action and What's The Purpose?"

November 10

"Debating Same-Sex Marriage and The Good Life"

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CofC PS Mission Statement

The College of Charleston Philosophical Society (CofCPS) aims to foster and encourage the exchange and discussion of ideas among majors, minors, and students in other disciplines, involving the College and community at large.

In order to fulfill this mission we plan to host a variety of events, including:

· Formal bi-weekly meetings focusing on specific topics from selected readings and media, and guest presentations by faculty and graduate students

· Occasional informal meetings focusing on suggested films, student papers, and event planning

· Two panel discussions per semester (for example: graduate admissions advice, race and gender in academia)

· Opportunities to practice student presentations for conferences and classes

· Fundraising activities (for example: coffee + book sale, evening event soliciting donations)

Our goals as a Society are to attract prospective students to the discipline, increase active participation and retention of majors and minors in the field (including offering pre-professionalizing workshops), and help cultivate interest in interdisciplinary communication throughout the College.

We want to be open and inclusive to all regardless of race, sexuality, gender, national origin, religious views, handicap, and age. We will address philosophical issues that are most relevant to our peers, encourage diverse viewpoints and perspectives, and maintain high academic standards of rigor, honesty, and integrity.

Officers will be organized, on time, and respect the Society’s Constitution. Officer responsibilities include publicity, orchestration of events, fundraising, and attendance. Officers are also concerned with collaborative respectful interaction with faculty and appropriate use of facilities.

In turn, we expect participants to actively contribute, offer suggestions and ideas for future events or topics, and be invested in the success and future of the Society itself.

Major & Minor Requirements

Requirements for the Major: 33 semester hours in philosophy which must include 215 or 216; 201; 202; and 450. Of the remaining 21 hours of electives in philosophy, at least 12 hours must be taken in courses at or above the 200 level, with at least nine of these at or above the 300 level. Requirements for the Minor: 18 semester hours in philosophy which must include 101 or 102; 215 or 216; and 201, 202, 304, 305, 306, 307, or 310. Two of the remaining courses must be at or above the 200 level.