Philosophy
In our modern world of social liberalism and libertarianism, we tend to think that questions of policy should be procedural rather than substantive: government should restrict itself to the protection of individual rights and the arbitration of conflict, and it should remain neutral with respect to moral issues. I think this approach is right for the most part, although it is usually driven by that relativistic wimpiness of which we should always be suspicious.
Harvard philosophy professor Michael Sandel, however, argues that we are deluding ourselves if we think we can extricate ourselves from substantive moral considerations when engaging in questions of public policy. Drawing on the work of Aristotle, Sandel argues, and rather persuasively at that, that moral considerations of justice are inevitably tied to other philosophical questions that get to the heart of our assumptions about social institutions. Starting with a debate about flutes, moving to a recent golf controversy that made it all the way to the Supreme Court, and ending with a discussion on gay marriage and the purpose of marriage, Sandel is able to show Aristotle's importance more than two millenia after his death.
Despite our positions on these particular positions, Professor Sandel rightly argues that it is high time the level of discourse in political debate resemble that of educated human beings and not the shouting matches so prevalent among pundits on TV.
If you're interested in these and other ethical questions, watch Professor Sandel's entire course on Justice.
- Michael Sandel On The Colbert Report
Questions of right and wrong confront us all the time and from all directions. Unfortunately, most of us are not equipped with the necessary philosophical background to think about them consistently, systematically and with a view to their logical implications....
- Justice - What Is The Right Thing To Do?
Episode 10. Aristotle's teleological understanding of the universe made him think of social and political institutions in terms of goals and purposes. If you understand the telos of a particular institution or practice, then you would also understand...
- Justice - What Is The Right Thing To Do?
Episode 9. Affirmative Action is a notoriously contentious social, ethical and political issue, so before we let our emotions get the better of our judgment, it may be worth our time to consider its raison d'être: it stems from the recognition that...
- San Jose State University Philosophy Professors Are Showing Their Teeth And Taking A Bite At Harvard
"Philosophy professors refuse to pilot Harvard professor's online course" by Katherine Landergan May 28th, 2013 boston.com A prominent Harvard professor is facing criticism from the philosophy faculty at San Jose State University, after they were...
- Dissent From A Philosophy Department About Online Courses
"Professors at San Jose State Criticize Online Courses" by Tamar Lewin May 2nd, 2013 The New York Times San Jose State University has publicly committed to using online courses to bring in more students — and bring down costs — but its philosophy...
Philosophy
Michael Sandel - Philosophy and the Lost Art of Democratic Debate
In our modern world of social liberalism and libertarianism, we tend to think that questions of policy should be procedural rather than substantive: government should restrict itself to the protection of individual rights and the arbitration of conflict, and it should remain neutral with respect to moral issues. I think this approach is right for the most part, although it is usually driven by that relativistic wimpiness of which we should always be suspicious.Harvard philosophy professor Michael Sandel, however, argues that we are deluding ourselves if we think we can extricate ourselves from substantive moral considerations when engaging in questions of public policy. Drawing on the work of Aristotle, Sandel argues, and rather persuasively at that, that moral considerations of justice are inevitably tied to other philosophical questions that get to the heart of our assumptions about social institutions. Starting with a debate about flutes, moving to a recent golf controversy that made it all the way to the Supreme Court, and ending with a discussion on gay marriage and the purpose of marriage, Sandel is able to show Aristotle's importance more than two millenia after his death.
Despite our positions on these particular positions, Professor Sandel rightly argues that it is high time the level of discourse in political debate resemble that of educated human beings and not the shouting matches so prevalent among pundits on TV.
If you're interested in these and other ethical questions, watch Professor Sandel's entire course on Justice.
Here is the list and links to all episodes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12..
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- Michael Sandel On The Colbert Report
Questions of right and wrong confront us all the time and from all directions. Unfortunately, most of us are not equipped with the necessary philosophical background to think about them consistently, systematically and with a view to their logical implications....
- Justice - What Is The Right Thing To Do?
Episode 10. Aristotle's teleological understanding of the universe made him think of social and political institutions in terms of goals and purposes. If you understand the telos of a particular institution or practice, then you would also understand...
- Justice - What Is The Right Thing To Do?
Episode 9. Affirmative Action is a notoriously contentious social, ethical and political issue, so before we let our emotions get the better of our judgment, it may be worth our time to consider its raison d'être: it stems from the recognition that...
- San Jose State University Philosophy Professors Are Showing Their Teeth And Taking A Bite At Harvard
"Philosophy professors refuse to pilot Harvard professor's online course" by Katherine Landergan May 28th, 2013 boston.com A prominent Harvard professor is facing criticism from the philosophy faculty at San Jose State University, after they were...
- Dissent From A Philosophy Department About Online Courses
"Professors at San Jose State Criticize Online Courses" by Tamar Lewin May 2nd, 2013 The New York Times San Jose State University has publicly committed to using online courses to bring in more students — and bring down costs — but its philosophy...