Justice

What's the right thing to do?

I'm thinking about justice because of the class Harvard has recently offered to the public. It's an ethics class.

Is torture ever justified? Would you steal a drug that your child needs to survive? Is it sometimes wrong to tell the truth? How much is one human life worth? What do you think and why?

Justice is one of the most popular courses in Harvard’s history. Now Harvard opens its classroom to the world. Professor Michael Sandel challenges us with difficult moral dilemmas and asks our opinion about the right thing to do. He then asks us to examine our answers in the light of new scenarios. The results are often surprising, revealing that important moral questions are never black and white. This course also addresses the hot topics of our day—affirmative action, same-sex marriage, patriotism and rights. Here are some of the topics the class will cover:

The Moral Side of Murder
The Case for Cannibalism
Putting a Price Tag on Life
Consenting Adults
Motherhood: For Sale
A Lesson in Lying
Arguing Affirmative Action
The Claims of Community
Debating Same-sex Marriage
The Good Life