Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?

Produced by Harvard University in partnership with WGBH, this academic course in moral philosophy (presented in 24 half-hour sessions) captures one of the institution's most popular undergraduate classes. Professor Michael Sandel combines a discussion of seminal texts in the field with an application of their principles to various contemporary social, political, and economic issues. The course introduces works by such figures as John Locke, Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, and John Rawls, together with underlying concepts such as utilitarianism and distributive justice, while also encouraging viewers to think critically about related ethics. Sandel adopts the Socratic method to presents cases (some hypothetical, others historical) related to an 1884 murder trial resulting from cannibalism among shipwreck survivors, a dispute over affirmative action, and the controversy surrounding gay marriage, among other subjects. A genuine but civil debate follows, while fluent camerawork captures Sandel refereeing and adding further nuances as the students offer their arguments. As the course proceeds, both viewers and students become increasingly sensitive to the moral ramifications of decisions faced in everyday life and, one hopes, more capable of analyzing them responsibly. DVD extras include discussion guides and an excerpt from Sandel's titular book. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)