Philosophy
Episode 7. As we saw in the previous episode, the essence of Kant's categorical imperative is its absolute and universally binding force: since the moral status of our actions does not depend on consequences or contingent conditions, the moral law admits of no exceptions. One of the famous objections to Kant's theory came from the philosopher Benjamin Constant's case of the inquiring murder: you hide your friend in your house because a murderer is trying to kill him; the murderer knocks on your door and asks you if you know where your friend is. Kant tells us that it is always wrong to lie, but can it really be moral to betray your friend for the sake of honesty? Kant was consistent enough to bite the bullet, and not for any trivial reason...
Professor Sandel uses the famous case of Bill Clinton's attempt to dodge the question regarding his marital infidelity to begin a discussion and analysis of white lies and misleading truths in light of Kant's moral theory and his distinction of human beings' dual nature as empirical and intelligible agents.
The second lecture provides an introduction to John Rawls' idea that principles of justice would be those agreed to by mutually disinterested rational beings in an original position behind a veil of ignorance. This is a hypothetical scenario that points to the need to preclude any purely subjective and morally arbitrary considerations that might motivate individuals to enter the social contract with the prospect of securing some unfair advantage for themselves.
In presenting the basic idea behind Rawls' contractarianism, Professor Sandel provides a series of amusing examples of real and imaginary cases, mixed with an analysis of the conditions that could render contracts morally binding. As always, nothing is as obvious as it seems at first glance.
Episode list: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
.
- Do You Have To Do Something To Do Something Good?
Whenever I teach ethics, one point in Kant's discussion that always gives rise to an interesting conversation is his claim that for an act to be of moral worth, it cannot serve any positive purpose for the person who does it. Even if it just makes...
- An Explanation Of Kant's Moral Argument
Kant?s moral argument focuses on the notion that God must exist to provide structure to the moral universe. Technically he did not believe that is was possible to prove the existence of God through rational or empirical means. It is important to outline...
- Consequentialism, Deontology, And The Aretaic Turn
One debate that has dominated the attention of ethicists in the history of the modern era has been between consequentialism (the idea that the consequences of a particular action form the basis for any valid moral judgement about that action) and deontology...
- Justice - What Is The Right Thing To Do?
Episode 12. When we, post-colonial citizens of liberal democracies in the 21st century, deliberate about principles of justice and the distribution of rights, we tend to think that respect for the plurality of competing conceptions of the good requires...
- Justice - What Is The Right Thing To Do?
Episode 8. Philosopher John Rawls asks us to consider what formal principles of justice rational and mutually disinterested persons would choose in the original position of equality behind the veil of ignorance. If you didn't know your own place in...
Philosophy
Justice - What Is the Right Thing To Do?
Episode 7. As we saw in the previous episode, the essence of Kant's categorical imperative is its absolute and universally binding force: since the moral status of our actions does not depend on consequences or contingent conditions, the moral law admits of no exceptions. One of the famous objections to Kant's theory came from the philosopher Benjamin Constant's case of the inquiring murder: you hide your friend in your house because a murderer is trying to kill him; the murderer knocks on your door and asks you if you know where your friend is. Kant tells us that it is always wrong to lie, but can it really be moral to betray your friend for the sake of honesty? Kant was consistent enough to bite the bullet, and not for any trivial reason...Professor Sandel uses the famous case of Bill Clinton's attempt to dodge the question regarding his marital infidelity to begin a discussion and analysis of white lies and misleading truths in light of Kant's moral theory and his distinction of human beings' dual nature as empirical and intelligible agents.
The second lecture provides an introduction to John Rawls' idea that principles of justice would be those agreed to by mutually disinterested rational beings in an original position behind a veil of ignorance. This is a hypothetical scenario that points to the need to preclude any purely subjective and morally arbitrary considerations that might motivate individuals to enter the social contract with the prospect of securing some unfair advantage for themselves.
In presenting the basic idea behind Rawls' contractarianism, Professor Sandel provides a series of amusing examples of real and imaginary cases, mixed with an analysis of the conditions that could render contracts morally binding. As always, nothing is as obvious as it seems at first glance.
Episode list: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
.
- Do You Have To Do Something To Do Something Good?
Whenever I teach ethics, one point in Kant's discussion that always gives rise to an interesting conversation is his claim that for an act to be of moral worth, it cannot serve any positive purpose for the person who does it. Even if it just makes...
- An Explanation Of Kant's Moral Argument
Kant?s moral argument focuses on the notion that God must exist to provide structure to the moral universe. Technically he did not believe that is was possible to prove the existence of God through rational or empirical means. It is important to outline...
- Consequentialism, Deontology, And The Aretaic Turn
One debate that has dominated the attention of ethicists in the history of the modern era has been between consequentialism (the idea that the consequences of a particular action form the basis for any valid moral judgement about that action) and deontology...
- Justice - What Is The Right Thing To Do?
Episode 12. When we, post-colonial citizens of liberal democracies in the 21st century, deliberate about principles of justice and the distribution of rights, we tend to think that respect for the plurality of competing conceptions of the good requires...
- Justice - What Is The Right Thing To Do?
Episode 8. Philosopher John Rawls asks us to consider what formal principles of justice rational and mutually disinterested persons would choose in the original position of equality behind the veil of ignorance. If you didn't know your own place in...