Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political philos.

[devilsadvocate]

"What's the Right Thing To Do?
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?
Watch the videos to hear Harvard professor Michael Sandel talk about justice, equality, democracy, and citizenship.
Then, visit the community to discuss: what do you think, and why?"

I found this lecture series to be excellent; Coherent, thought-provoking and entertaining, even though I was already more or less familiar with the topics of the lectures such as utilitarianism, libertarianism, Locke's, Kant's and Rawl's philosophy. I've watched many lecture series posted free from different universities and paid for many from the teaching company, and this one is easily among the best and certainly the most entertaining one I've encountered. Moral issues are discussed in clear manner with thought-provoking real life examples and problems. The dialogue students in the series had whilst raising objections and defending their views was also interesting to watch.

Highly recommended to anyone with even the least bit of interest in either or both, ethics or political philosophy.

On youtube or: http://www.justiceharvard.org/

 

[Snufkin]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

Very interesting

 

[Noth]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

It is indeed an excellent lecture series. I think I made it until part 8 or 9 before I lost interest somewhat as by then it focussed more on politics than moral concepts, but nonetheless truly excellent.

 

[ImprobableJoe]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

I don't trust philosophy... I know, I know, everyone knows I don't trust philosophy. I'm broke until Thursday and a little burned out on Arkham City so I'm looking to pick a fight.

 

[televator]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

I don't like the reliance on adhering to stupendously impossible scenarios about trolley cars and the narrow focus of the consequences of forced organ transplants.

What use is moral philosophy if no one bothers to apply it to a realistic situation with a much wider field of vision of the consequences of one's actions?

I'm watching it through regardless. Thanks for posting this. I saw the first episode on YT, but I had no idea that there was more.

 

[Your Funny Uncle]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

They showed a version of this on BBC Four a few months ago. I seem to remember the episodes being half an hour long so it must have been edited, but nevertheless I found it to be very interesting.

 

[Aught3]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

Sandel's book Justice is also excellent.

 

[devilsadvocate]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

I don't like the reliance on adhering to stupendously impossible scenarios about trolley cars and the narrow focus of the consequences of forced organ transplants.

What use is moral philosophy if no one bothers to apply it to a realistic situation with a much wider field of vision of the consequences of one's actions?

I think you'll find that most of the problems presented later on in the series are real-life scenarios.

I didn't actually watch the first episode because youtube offered me the 2nd lecture on the front page and I went from there, but I have to say in defense of the trolley problem that it is very powerful thought experiment, especially when juxtaposed with the organ transplant problem. Both come up a lot in moral philosophy especially together.

 

[televator]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

I don't like the reliance on adhering to stupendously impossible scenarios about trolley cars and the narrow focus of the consequences of forced organ transplants.

What use is moral philosophy if no one bothers to apply it to a realistic situation with a much wider field of vision of the consequences of one's actions?

I think you'll find that most of the problems presented later on in the series are real-life scenarios.

I didn't actually watch the first episode because youtube offered me the 2nd lecture on the front page and I went from there, but I have to say in defense of the trolley problem that it is very powerful thought experiment, especially when juxtaposed with the organ transplant problem. Both come up a lot in moral philosophy especially together.

Yeah, I'm on #4 so far. It gets A LOT more interesting as it goes. I had a couple of objections up 'til the point where that one student backs up his position with observations in lab mice. That was win!

Looking back now the trolley and the organs make sense because of the relevance to the self possession Vs. greater good dilemma. Although, I still don't find them valuable onto themselves as they really go out of the way to remove nuance.

I don't trust philosophy... I know, I know, everyone knows I don't trust philosophy. I'm broke until Thursday and a little burned out on Arkham City so I'm looking to pick a fight.

C'mon Joe, I think you'd actually enjoy it. They get around to debating the basics of libertarian ideals....not much different from what you've done on these boards. ....'cept it's more calm on both sides.

As fun as Batman sounds, I do take you as a "higher value" sort of guy anyway. You should watch.

 

[Dean]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

Ironically, science itself is in fact a form of philosophy. In fact, it wasn't even called "science" and distanced from philosophy until rather recently, on a timeline of civilization. Science IS a philosophy, albeit, it would seem, a ruthlessly efficient one.

 

[Skillbus]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

I don't like the reliance on adhering to stupendously impossible scenarios about trolley cars and the narrow focus of the consequences of forced organ transplants.

What use is moral philosophy if no one bothers to apply it to a realistic situation with a much wider field of vision of the consequences of one's actions?

I'm watching it through regardless. Thanks for posting this. I saw the first episode on YT, but I had no idea that there was more.

I think it's necessary to examine "stupendously impossible scenarios" in ethics for the same reason in electromagnetics you look at infinite current filaments with constant current and infinitely distant return paths, or in mechanics you start out by looking at the uniformly accelerated motion of particles in 1 or 2 dimensions. They isolate fundamental principles, which need to be understood before you can understand complicated real-world scenarios with anything better than direct intuition.

 

[CosmicJoghurt]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

Besides, if you can't apply a moral philosophy to every single situation it's not reliable.

 

[Dean]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

Besides, if you can't apply a moral philosophy to every single situation it's not reliable.

The idea of a moral code that is applicable to any conceivable scenario that may present itself ... is hardy intelligible, is it? :?

 

[devilsadvocate]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

Besides, if you can't apply a moral philosophy to every single situation it's not reliable.

The idea of a moral code that is applicable to any conceivable scenario that may present itself ... is hardy intelligible, is it? :?

This statement has perplexed me for some time now, but I never got around to asking about it, so here goes:

What do you mean by this statement? Moral code that is always applicable doesn't seem to me as unintelligible at all (if that is indeed what you claimed). Take for example very simple deontological moral philosophy that only commands: "Never lie." How is this not applicable for every possible situation?

 

[Dean]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

"Never lie" is applicable in all circumstances? I tend to prefer the situationalist method of judging moral exercises on an individual basis. For example: is it morally wrong for the family hiding Anne Frank to lie about her location to the Nazis? There are times when what most would consider to be a deeply immoral act, such as stealing, killing, and lying ... are all morally justified. Of course, this is only the case in extreme circumstances, such as the one I just mentioned, but it completely destroys the notion that moral philosophies are unreasonable unless they can be applied to ALL circumstances. Such as "never lie". It's just that "never" that I have trouble with. So you're either proving the point I intended to make further, or accentuating it.

 

[devilsadvocate]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

I should've been more clear. I agree with you that there are situations in which lying is morally justified. I don't adhere to moral philosophy that commands "never lie", and certainly not to a one which only content is that one command. But that is beside the point. The code is still applicable at every single situation you can encounter. The fact we both don't like it, or that probably great majority of people do not like it, doesn't matter.

I guess you did answer me though. I understand now that what you meant by "not applicable" should be read more like: No moral theory you have encountered gives acceptable (to you) guidance for every possible situation.

 

[tuxbox]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

Very interesting set of videos.

C'mon Joe, I think you'd actually enjoy it. They get around to debating the basics of libertarian ideals....not much different from what you've done on these boards. ....'cept it's more calm on both sides.

What is wrong with libertarianism??

 

[Laurens]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

Very interesting set of videos.

C'mon Joe, I think you'd actually enjoy it. They get around to debating the basics of libertarian ideals....not much different from what you've done on these boards. ....'cept it's more calm on both sides.

What is wrong with libertarianism??

*hides behind a rock*

 

[Aught3]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

What is wrong with libertarianism??

I think this conversation starter could be moved here, or make a new thread.

 

[tuxbox]

Re: Harvard's free lecture series on moral and political phi

Thanks Aught3.