Socrates said that talking about virtue and the good life is one of the most important things a human being can do. That's where "Ethics-Talk" fits in. Born in 2009 in the Department of Philosophy Religion at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan), on May 18, 2020, Ethics-Talk was re-branded and re-launched under the auspices of the Cora di Brazzà Foundation as "Virtues of Peace." To learn more, visit us at http://www.virtuesofpeace.com and http://www.coradibrazza.com.
Sun, May 19, 2024
This show continues the discussion of the “legacy of learning” bequeathed by Nurse Catherine Pine in her Last Will & Testament (discussion of 4/21/24). In that show, we were joined by British historian Elizabeth Crawford, who discussed her research on the Last Will and Testament of Nurse Catherine Pine (1864-1941), and in particular, on the gift of the “suffragette medal” which Pine bequeathed to the British College of Nurses. In this show, we focus on the other "suffrage memorabilia provision" of Nurse Pine’s Will which bequeathed “books and photographs” to the “Women’s Social and Political Club”. As we discuss, the “Women’s Social and Political Club” was the “Suffragette Fellowship Club," and it is the early history of the Suffragette Fellowship Club on which we focus.
Sun, April 21, 2024
This show is part interview/part philosophical discussion that focuses on the work and legacy of Nurse Catherine Pine (1864-1941). Joining us is Elizabeth Crawford, an authority on the British Suffrage Movement, who has written on Pine as well as earlier suffragists such as Milicent Fawcett (1847-1929) both in books and in Crawford’s blog “Woman and Her Sphere.” Crawford explains the research process by which she discovered that Pine’s Last Will and Testament contained a bequest of several suffragette treasures: books, photographs and a “suffragette medal””. We discuss the suffragette movement of which Nurse Pine was a part; and how Elizabeth Crawford’s research uncovered a mystery that has both philosophical and legal dimensions.
Thu, June 02, 2022
Bertha von Suttner's Lay Down Your Arms (Part 4). In our last show of 5/18/22, we began and ended with the final sentence of Chapter 6, pg. 140: "What a foolish world -- still in leading strings -- cruel, unthinking! This was the result of my historical studies." In this show, we focus on Chapters 7 & 8 (pages 141-186). In these chapters, Martha endures the departure of Frederick for war with Denmark. This is the second time she has suffered the departure of husband for war and it takes its toll. The couple is reunited after much grief. We discuss some of the philosophical and political aspects of various passages. This English translation of LDYA has 19 chapters and is 410 pages long. We are about 1/2 into the text. Follow along with the text which you can download at http://www.berthavonsuttner.com/ldya.pdf.
Thu, May 19, 2022
This show continues our discussion from 10/7/21 of Bertha von Suttner's most famous and well-known work, Lay Down your Arms! (LDYA). Since our last installment, 7 months ago, Russia has invaded Ukraine, and this conflict has endured for almost 3 months. On this Peace Day, and the 2 year anniversary of this show, Bertha's book is all the more relevant. Today we focus on chapter 6 (116-140), which we interpret as an account that foreshadows Hannah Arendt's philosophy on the relationship between thoughtlessness and evil ("the banality of evil"). In Chapter 6, Bertha stresses the link between armed conflict and thoughtlessness, both of the individual and the masses, as we discuss. This English translation of LDYA has 19 chapters and is 410 pages long. We are about 1/3 into the text.
Thu, October 07, 2021
This show continues our discussion from 9/16/21 of Bertha von Suttner's most famous and well-known work, Lay Down your Arms!. In this episode, we focus on Chapters 4-5 (about 60 pages) Martha Dotzky’s (nèe Althaus) and Baron Friedrich von Tilling's relationship intensifies and we witness the beginning of heightening and developing of both consciences through their encounter. Through intellectual discussion and a shared "humane viewpoint" Martha, who originally swore off Freidrich von Tilling as a suitor because he is a soldier, begins to realize that he is different. A conversation about Darwin's The Origin of Species is identified as the moment in which Martha begins to fall in love with Friedrich. In this show, we discuss the philosophical implications of the encounter between Martha Dotzky and Friedrich von Tilling and other interesting episodes in Chapters 4-5.
Thu, September 16, 2021
This show focuses Bertha von Suttner's (1843-1914) most famous and well known work, "Lay Down your Arms !". Originally published in the German language in 1889 with the title Die Waffen Nieder!, the first English translation appeared in 1892. Suttner would become the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize (in 1905). This show introduces Suttner's book, a fictional autobiography, of 19 chapters. In this show, with Dr. Hope Elizabeth May who founded The Bertha von Suttner Project in 2013 (berthavonsuttner.com), we discuss some of the features of the book, with a focus on the contents of the first 3 chapters.
Thu, August 12, 2021
This show marks the 30th anniversary of Korean Kim Hak Sun's (김학순) (1924-1997) decision to break the silence about Japan's military sexual slavery during World War II. On August 14, 1991, Ms. Kim, a Korean, decided to make public her horrifying ordeal that began when she was 17 years old. This decision began a process of testimony, education and reconciliation that continues to this day. In this show, we focus on the issue of sexual slavery as it has affected Korea. We begin by discussing some passages from the historical novel One Left by Kim Soom (translated into English by Bruce and Ju-Chan Fulton). The novel's fictitious protagonist, P'unggil, is impacted by Hak Sun's testimony, and the novel incorporates the experiences of numerous other actual victims in its narrative, such as Kim Bok Dong (김복동) and Gil Won Ok (길원옥). Kim Hak Sun's testimony not only empowered other women to come forward, it launched a wave of court cases, beginning with her own in 1991 against Japan. These cases raise important legal and ethical questions, among them: the tension between sovereign immunity proper redress for human rights violations, and the scope of a state's duty regarding its citizens. Our hope is that the listener becomes more conscious of this under-told story of tragedy and the role of law in establishing peace and justice for victims of state sanctioned violence.
Tue, June 15, 2021
This show is the second installment of a discussion of Evelyn Grubb's petition to the United Nations. Last week, on June 7, 2021, we commemorated the 50th anniversary of Evelyn Grubb's petition to the United Nations on behalf of all the families of POW/MIA. A groundbreaking and prescient argument rooted in principles of humanitarian and human rights law, the "class action" petition appeals to two different instruments of public international law: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 3rd Geneva Convention. In Part One of this discussion (recorded on June 8, 2021), we focused on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In this show, we continue this discussion on the systemic gender discrimination faced by the wives of POW/MIA. We also discuss how the Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions are relevant to the argument in the petition.
Tue, June 08, 2021
50 years ago, on June 7, 1971, in her capacity as the National Coordinator for the National League of POW/MIA Families, Evelyn Grubb (1931-2005) petitioned the United Nations to pressure North Vietnam to disclose information truthful information about the status of all POW/MIA. Evelyn's historic petition made reference to two instruments of international law: The 3d Geneva Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In this show, we provide a introductory background of these instruments and discuss how Evelyn Grubb used them in her petition.
Tue, May 25, 2021
This show is second in a series in which we discuss the encounter between theologian and philosopher Howard Thurman (1899-1981) and pacifist-feminist author Olive Schreiner (1855-1920). Thurman first encountered Schreiner five years after Schreiner's death when Schreiner's allegory of "The Hunter" was read aloud at a conference which Thurman was attending as a 25 year old divinity student at Rochester Theological Seminary. After that encounter, Thurman read everything of Schreiner's that he could find. In the early 1940s, Thurman worked hard to publish an anthology of Schreiner's writings, a dream that would finally be realized in 1973 when he published "A Track to the Water's Edge". We discuss more of this encounter as well as their views on the moral psychology - the specific beliefs, desires and cultivated habits - that undergird the "non-violent way of life" endorsed by both Schreiner and Thurman.
Tue, May 18, 2021
On this one year anniversary of the Virtues of Peace podcast, and the 120th anniversary of the observation of Peace Day (also known as "Hague Day") in the United States, we discuss a powerful trans-generational, trans-racial, trans-national and trans-gender encounter between feminist pacifist writer Olive Schreiner (1855-1920) and philosopher and theologian Howard Thurman (1899-1981). Thurman, who provided the philosophical framework for the non-violent wing of the Civil Rights Movement, first encountered Schreiner's ideas in 1925. He thereafter devoured everything he could by Schreiner, even naming his first daughter "Olive" (who later became Olive Wong). In 1973, Thurman published "A Track to the Water's Edge: An Olive Schreiner Reader". In this show, we discuss the encounter between Thurman and Schreiner, an important point of contact that highlights the intersection between the Peace through Law Movement, the Women's Movement and the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.
Mon, April 19, 2021
This episode continues our conversation about the Adelaide Johnson’s Portrait Monument to Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. In this show we discuss how the statue helps to unearth the linkages between the Suffrage Movement and the Peace through Law Movement. We focus on a project initiated by Dr. Hope Elizabeth May, who is the founder and President of the Cora di Brazzà Foundation. One of the initiatives of the Foundation titled "Forward Into Light" aims to uncover the linkages between the women's suffrage movement and the Peace through Law Movement. As a means to that end, Dr. May oversaw a project to create a replica of Johnson's statue with the 238 word inscription that was erased in 1921 and has not yet been restored. The statue was completed in 2021, marking the 100th anniversary of the unveiling of the statue in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. In this show, we discuss this project and Dr. May's journey to replicate the statue.
Mon, April 12, 2021
This show continues our conversation with Dr. Caroline Sparks who, after encountering Adelaide Johnson's Portrait Monument to Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton in the Crypt of the U.S. Capitol in 1978, resolved to return it to its more elevated position in the Rotunda, a space for which it was designed. As we discussed last time, Caroline's goal was to raise the statue in 1995, to mark the 75th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. While 1995 was an important year for the statue due to the fact that the U.S. Congress became involved in moving the statue, a number of obstacles prevented the statue from returning to the Rotunda in 1995. It was not until Mother's Day in 1997 that the Suffragist statue was finally moved. In this show, we discuss Caroline Sparks' involvement in the events from 1995-1997 which culminated in the statue returning to the Rotunda.
Mon, March 29, 2021
In 1978, Caroline Sparks stumbled upon Adelaide Johnson's suffragist statue known as The Portrait Monument to Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. That chance encounter in the Crypt of the U.S. Capitol awakened a resolve in Sparks to move the Statue from the obscurity of the Crypt and into the light of the U.S. Rotunda, the original and more visible of Johnson's statue. Almost 20 years later after Sparks' initial "Crypt encounter," and 76 years after being lowered to the Crypt from the Rotunda, Johnson's statue finally returned to the Rotunda in 1997. Join us on this special show as Caroline Sparks describes her role in helping to raise Adelaide Johnson's statue from the Crypt to the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, thereby symbolizing the placement of women in the heart of the American political process. Also joining us is Sandra Weber, author of The Woman Suffrage Statue: A History of Adelaide Johnson's Portrait Monument at the United States Capitol.
Thu, March 11, 2021
Philosopher, poet, advocate of non-violence and advocate for democracy, Ham Sok Hon (1901-1989) was one of the most important figures in South Korea's peace and democracy movement. In this show, we are honored to be joined by Dr. Song Chong Lee, who recently published "Ham Sok Hon's Ssial Cosmopolitan Vision" (Lexington Books 2020) in which he argues that the philosophy of Ham Sok Hon can inform contemporary discussions of cosmopolitanism. Dr. Lee's book is a most welcome contribution as it is one of the few books on Ham Sok Hon written in English and the very first book to place Ham's philosophy within the deeper context of Western philosophy - including not only Ancient Greek philosophy but also the philosophy of Hobbes, Locke, Kant. Join us as we introduce you to some of the essential elements of Ham's life and brilliant "Ssial" philosophy.
Mon, March 01, 2021
March 1st is a sacred day in Korea as it marks the moment when, in 1919, citizens throughout the peninsula organized a widespread non-violent and democratic uprising against their colonizers, imperial Japan. Long before the division of the country into "North" and "South," citizens from Pyonyang to Seoul to Cheonan, participated in the March 1st Movement. In this show, which marks the 102nd anniversary of the March 1st Movement, we examine the Movement through a narrative that transcends the typical interpretation of the Movement as a nationalist, anti-Japanese Movement for Korean Independence. Moving beyond the description of the Movement as one for "independence" and "self-determination," we discuss the March 1st Movement within the deeper context of the international Peace through Law Movement. Viewed as a moment in the larger "Red Thread" of Peace-through-Law, we discuss how the Movement was timed with the "organization of the world" and the development of international justice in the aftermath of World War 1, and focus on some of the key ideas - such as reconciliation - expressed in the March 1st 1919 Declaration. We also discuss some of the morally energetic individuals involved in the 3.1 Movement.
Mon, February 15, 2021
One hundred years ago today, an important monument to the women's equality movement was unveiled in the U.S. Capitol. On February 15, 1921, Susan B. Anthony's 101st birthday, the suffrage statue titled "Portrait Monument to Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton" was unveiled in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in a ceremony of great beauty and dignity. 100 years later, on the centenary of this event, we are once again honored to be joined by special guest Sandra Weber, the foremost expert on the Portrait Monument, and author of The Woman Suffrage Statue: A History of Adelaide Johnson's Portrait Monument at the United States Capitol (2016 McFarland). This conversation is Part 2 of a two part series with Weber devoted to unlocking the stories surrounding the Portrait Monument. In this installment, Weber shares the incredible story of the statue - from its connection to earlier statues sculpted by Adelaide Johnson in the late 1800s, to the many obstacles faced by Johnson in realizing her vision. Learn about the meaning and significance of Johnson's beautiful and mysterious work of art and the treasure-trove of stories to which it is connected.
Thu, February 11, 2021
This conversation is Part I of a two part series devoted to unlocking the stories surrounding a statue that was unveiled on February 15, 1921 - the 101st birthday of Susan. B. Anthony. Years in the making, the Portrait Monument was a labor of love for the "sculptress of the suffrage movement," Adelaide Johnson (1859-1955). Special guest Sandra Weber, author of The Woman Suffrage Statue: A History of Adelaide Johnson's Portrait Monument at the United States Capitol (2016 McFarland) and the foremost expert on the statue, joins us for this special mini series. In 2012 Weber was awarded a Capitol Historical Society Fellowship to study the Portrait Monument. She consulted numerous archives - not only Adelaide Johnson's papers, but also the archives of the Architect of the Capitol - who oversaw the placement of the statue in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol - and then subsequently to the crypt. Join us to learn about Weber's journey in unearthing numerous treasure-stories connected to the statue and to women's history on the 100th anniversary of the statue's unveiling. We also focus on Susan B Anthony (1820-1906) who as we will learn, played an invaluable role in the creation of the Portrait Monument that was unveiled 15 years after her death, and on her 101st birthday.
Thu, January 28, 2021
Frederik Heffermehl is an international lawyer, peace activist and author of “The Nobel Peace Prize: What Nobel Really Wanted” (2010 Praeger). Former Vice President of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA), Heffermehl joins us as we continue to reflect on the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which entered into force on 1/22/2021. We also discuss Heffermehl’s work on the Nobel Peace Prize including his website nobelwill.org. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017. Heffermehl reflects on this award and, more generally, discusses Nobel’s intent in his will of 1895– by which 5 different “Nobel Prizes” were established (Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, and Peace). Respecting Nobel’s intent is a legal duty incumbent upon the Norwegian Nobel Committee (NNC). However, Heffermehl argues that with regard to the “Prize for the Champions of Peace” as Nobel called it, The NNC has shirked this duty, in part by ignoring the connection between Nobel and Bertha von Suttner, who inspired him to create the prize.
Thu, January 21, 2021
January 22, 2021 marks the day when the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) enters into force. To help usher in this historic moment, we are joined by Anti-nuclear activist Vanda Prošková of the Czech Republic, co-convener of Youth Fusion, a global network that engages and educates young people regarding the nuclear threat. In this show, we discuss not only the spirit and purpose of the Treaty found in its preamble, but also some of the duties that signatories of the TPNW must undertake such as absolute prohibition of these weapons and assistance to both victims and the environment that have been harmed through nuclear testing.
Thu, January 14, 2021
January 22, 2021 marks the day when the historic Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons enters into force. To help usher in this historic moment, we are joined by Anti-nuclear youth activist Vanda Prošková of the Czech Republic, and co-convener of Youth Fusion - a global anti-nuclear network that engages and educates youth about the nuclear threat. Learn how young people are organizing around the nuclear issue through networks such as Youth Fusion and Move the Nuclear Weapons Money.
Thu, January 07, 2021
We begin our 2021 series with special guest Ms. Vanda Proskova – a member of global civil society and Vice chair of the Prague based NGO The Prague Vision Institute for Sustainable Security which advocates for policies that foster international peace and human security. Ms. Proskova and PragueVision have been hard at work in moving us closer to the more humane world that Bertha von Suttner envisioned. This task involves an appreciation of history – and of the project on which Suttner so passionately worked. But as we have repeatedly bemoaned, there is much ignorance about this history and sadly, this is no less true in Prague, where Suttner was born in 1843. Accordingly, in 2019, Ms. Proskova and her NGO set out to publish a new Czech translation of Bertha’s groundbreaking novel of 1889, Die Waffen Nieder! (Lay Down Your Arms). Ms.Proskova was also the primary organizer of an international conference in Prague not only to launch this new translation, but also to highlight Bertha’s connection to contemporary issues of international security such as nuclear disarmament. Join us for an inspiring conversation with Ms. Proskova which demonstrates the power of Bertha’s moral energy to inspire and move people today to continue working towards her vision of ‘humanity.’
Thu, December 31, 2020
Article 33 of the United Nations Charter found in a section (Chapter VI) titled “Pacific Settlement of Disputes”, enumerates a number of non-violent means by which to secure international peace: among them "arbitration" and "judicial settlement." But what is "arbitration" and how does it differ from "judicial settlement"? In this final show of 2020, we welcome special guest Steven van Hoogstraten, former Director of the Carnegie Foundation of the Netherlands (CF), which has a profound connection to both "arbitration" and "judicial settlement". Located in The Hague, The Netherlands, the CF was established in 1903, and was an important outcome of the 1899 Hague Peace Conference. In this show, we discuss this history and draw attention to one of its most significant outcomes: The Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes. This 1899 Treaty established the first permanent international court, The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). One of the goals of the organized Peace through Law Movement, The PCA was seen by peace activists such as Bertha von Suttner as heralding a new age in which power pays tribute to Reason and Conscience. Were they correct? This question is also discussed.
Thu, December 10, 2020
On this Human Rights Day, we focus on some of the epistemic Human Rights and Duties specifically to Duty to Remember, the Right to Know and the Right to Truth. Before the International Human Rights Community began articulating the contours of these epistemic human rights, Evelyn Grubb (1931-2005), in her capacity as the national coordinator for the National League of POW/MIA families, petitioned the Secretary General of the United Nations about the fundamental human right to know. In that 1971 petition, Evelyn argued that both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 3rd Geneva Convention imply that her family has a fundamental human right to know about whether their father, Wilmer Newlin “Newk” Grubb, who was shot down in North Vietnam in 1966, was dead or alive. Evelyn also argued that North Vietnam violated this fundamental human right when it repeatedly used photographs of Major Grubb from 1966-1969 in ways that misled both the Grubb family and the American public as a whole. In this show, we discuss Evelyn’s argument and the nature of the epistemic human rights that are referenced in Evelyn’s petition.
Thu, November 19, 2020
We continue our series on the Duty to Remember by once again welcoming special guest, Dr. Jennie Jin, a forensic anthropologist who works for the DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency). Last week, in Part 1 of this interview, Dr. Jin talked about her work as leader of the Korean War Identification Project of the DPAA. She discussed the circumstances surrounding the recent identification of PFC John Shelemba of Hamtramck, Michigan. In dialogue with PFC Shelemba’s niece, Michele Vance, Dr. Jin explained why the remains known as “X-251 Taejon” were disinterred from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, and how, through various methods, were determined to be PFC Shelemba. In this show, Dr. Jin discusses another recent identification of Michigander SFC Jesse “Johnnie” Hill of Highland Park. Rather than being disinterred from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, the remains of SFC Hill were handed over by the DPRK (North Korea) in 2018 pursuant to an agreement between President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un. In this show, we discuss SFC Hill’s identification and how the Korean War Identification Project not only impacts families, but also political cooperation amongst the U.S. and the two Koreas.
Thu, November 12, 2020
In honor of Veterans Day, we continue our series on the Duty to Remember by welcoming special guest, Dr. Jennie Jin, a forensic anthropologist who works for the DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency). Dr. Jin leads to the Korean War Identification Project of the DPAA. Under her leadership, hundreds of missing US service members who fought in the Korean War have been identified. In this special episode, Dr. Jin discusses her work, and two recent identifications of Michiganders who fought in the Korean War: PFC John Shelemba of Hamtramck, and SFC Jesse “Johnnie” Hill of Highland Park. Dr. Jin discusses the different circumstances surrounding these identifications, the different methodologies used in each, the respective challenges that are faced in these identifications, and how this work is not only important to the families of the missing, but also to international cooperation, especially involving the U.S., ROK (South Korea) and DPRK (North Korea).
Thu, November 05, 2020
The very first article of the American Journal of International Law, page 1, volume 1 issue 1 is titled “The Need of Popular Understanding of International Law.” Written by Elihu Root and published in 1907, the article lays out the case for why basic understanding of International Law is necessary for world in which democracy is becoming the norm and in which international peace-through-law is the goal. Elihu Root won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1912. One hundred and five years later (in 2017), The International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the organization responsible for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), was awarded this same prize. In this show, we discuss highlights of Root’s essay, its relevance and legacy, and connect it to some of the basic provisions of the TPNW which takes effect in January 2021. Our aim in this show is to convey the importance of education of basic international law for the project of International Peace and the protection of Human Dignity, and how the TPNW is a crucial piece of this project.
Thu, October 29, 2020
Opened for signature in 2017, the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) recently reached an historic milestone when Honduras became the 50th country to ratify the Multilateral Treaty that prohibits its signatures from developing, using and threatening to use nuclear weapons. In effect, the Treaty “bans” its signatory states from possessing nuclear weapons. But what about those states which possess massive nuclear arsenals that have not signed on, including Russia and the U.S.? This show is an introduction to the Treaty which does not take effect until 2021. We focus on some International Law basics, the language of the preamble, and other legal instruments aimed at nuclear non-proliferation.
Thu, October 15, 2020
This show continues our series connecting the Duty to Remember and the Ethics of Memory to the issue of Prisoners of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA). We begin this show with a photo of Wilmer Newlin “Newk” Grubb, an American Pilot who was shot down in North Vietnam in 1966 and died shortly after becoming a POW. Clearly alive in the photo (taken in 1966), and being tended to by a nurse, the photo was promoted by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV), and published in U.S. papers. Eventually, Newk’s wife Evelyn learned of the photo, who until that time, was uncertain of his fate. Upon seeing the photo, Evelyn’s life – and that of her 4 sons – was changed forever. Learn about this powerful story as Kevyn Settle, director and producer of a relevant documentary film called “Fruits of Peace”, and Jeff Grubb, the eldest one son of Newk and Evelyn Grubb, discuss the events surrounding the photo both in Vietnam and in the United States.
Thu, October 08, 2020
This show continues our series devoted connecting the Duty to Remember and the Ethics of Memory to the issue of Prisoners of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA). Joining us is the talented team behind "Fruits of Peace" a 2019 documentary film that focuses on the reconciliatory journey of Du Pham, a Vietnamese National, who fought for the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) during the Vietnam War. Du belongs to the celebrated anti-aircraft unit "C4" which, as its first victory, shot down American Pilot Wilmer Newlin "Newk" Grubb in 1966. Surviving the attack on his plane, Newk was taken to a local village and fed, and then presumably transported to a camp holding other Prisoners of War. Newk died in captivity shortly thereafter. Du just assumed that Newk had survived and was released when the other Prisoners of War were returned to the United States during Operation Homecoming in 1973. Over 40 years later, in 2010, Du journeyed to the U.S. in part to visit his brother Mai (who fought for the South) and to find Newk. Join us to learn about the incredible unfolding of events triggered by Du's courageous decision to extend his hand to his former "enemy", as told in "Fruits of Peace." Joining us are Kevyn Settle (Producer, Director), Michael Chiplock (Executive Producer) and Shirine Hossaini (Associate Producer) of this moving film that raises profound and poignant questions about the Duty to Remember, the Ethics of Memory and how journeys of reconciliation help to harvest the fruits of peace.
Thu, September 24, 2020
In his book “The Ethics of Memory”(Harvard 2004) philosopher Avishai Margalit argues that although we have a duty to remember others, the nature of those duties shifts depending on our specific relationship to “the other”. We have a duty to remember friends and family, but that duty is weaker and even non-existent if the other is a stranger. In today’s show, we use the issue of Prisoners of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) to reflect on Margalit’s theory and other moral questions connected to our duties to the Missing, to the dead, and to their families. The familiar POW/MIA flag (created during the Vietnam War) states “You are Not Forgotten,” betokening a moral duty to remember. September 18, 2020 was National POW/MIA Recognition Day and this show is the first in a series in which we engage in an extended discussion of Prisoners of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) and their families. Joining us is documentary filmmaker Keyvn Settle who has done extensive research on the POW/MIA issue and has recently made a moving film, Fruits of Peace, that includes the story of how the Vietnam War helped to shape our Duty to Remember.
Thu, September 10, 2020
This show continues our discussion on 9/03, which explored the connections amongst peace, justice and the Golden Rule. We continue discussing the relationship amongst these concepts, focusing today on the connection between impartiality and justice - a connection which Andrew Carnegie observed in 1907. According to Carnegie, justice “forbids men to be judges when they are parties to the issue”. Yet, Immanuel Kant seems to posit existence of an inescapable “inner judge” which can, impartially, judge the extent to which one is complying with the moral law. In today’s show we explore these apparent contradictory claims and the relationship amongst justice, impartiality and peace, using the remarks of John Lewis (1940-2020) to guide us in this dialogue.
Thu, September 03, 2020
This show continues our discussion on 8/27, which focused on the role of visual objects in the Peace through Law movement. Discussing both the peace flag (created in 1897) and the Peace Palace, which opened in 1913, we noted how both play important roles in the "education piece" of the Peace through Law movement. These symbols not only provide a way of "entering the forest" of the history of this movement, but also help the individual to organize his or her "inner world" so that one acts in accordance with an "inner law" known as Golden Rule. Described as "the law and the prophets" in the Book of Matthew, we explore the connection between the Golden Rule, Peace and “Justice.” What is the relationship between peace and justice? How, if at all, is "justice" connected to the Golden Rule? August 28, we noted, is both the anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech (in 1963) and the opening of the Peace Palace (in 1913), and thus marks an important moment in peace history. We devote this show to exploring the connections amongst the Peace through Law Movement, the Golden Rule and the nature of Justice. We note that this is the first year that we have passed through August 28, without Congressman John Lewis, a fierce practitioner of the philosophy of non-violence and the last survivor of the original "big 6" behind the March on Washington. And who, in 1961, sat next to Al Bigelow (pictured here with his sailboat "The Golden Rule") on the "Freedom Ride 1961" which tested whether Southern states were complying with the desegregation laws.
Thu, August 27, 2020
This show marks two distinct but linked moments in peace history connected to the work of visualizing and concretizing the peace ideal that was(is) an important part of the “Peace through Law” Movement. August 27 marks the adoption of the International Flag of Peace by the Universal Peace Union (in 1897); it also marks the eve of the opening of the Peace Palace in The Hague (on August 28, 1913). In this show, we discuss the deeper roots of these moments that are part of the “visual history” of the Peace through Law Movement, and how both the Peace Flag and the Peace Palace play important roles in “organizing the world”, and the individual, for peace. We also discuss the mysterious linkages amongst the Peace through Law Movement, the women’s suffrage movement and the U.S. civil rights movement.s
Thu, August 13, 2020
This show continues our discussion of 8/6/2020, which marked the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. We pick up the thread of conversation about “organizing the world” for peace in the nuclear age through international institutions such as the International Court of Justice and the recent case brought by the Marshall Islands which sought to enforce provisions of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. We discuss the philosophical ideas and practices behind other proposed paths to “organize the world” for peace in the nuclear age such as the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and a new U.S. initiative known as “CEND” (“Creating the Environment for Nuclear Disarmament) which charts a different course.
Thu, August 06, 2020
The dropping of atomic bombs by the U.S. on Japan in 1945 caused Albert Einstein to exhort human beings to develop “a new manner of thinking” and with philosopher Bertrand Russell, Einstein and other scientists urged us to think in a new way” and “remember humanity, forget the rest.” In like manner, Shinzo Hamai, the first publicly elected mayor of Hiroshima following the bombing called for a “revolution of thought” in his Mayorial Peace Declaration of 1947. In today’s show, which commemorates the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we reflect on some of the “thinking” connected to the nuclear issue, and how we have tried to “organize the world” for peace - focusing on “legal approaches” to nuclear disarmament such as using the International Court of Justice which opined on the nuclear issue in 1996 and 2016.
Mon, July 27, 2020
In today’s show, we reflect on our series on the Korean War by focusing the philosophical dimensions that most resonated with us during this series. From the epistemological and psychological dimensions of the war involved in the PsyWar campaign and the ideological conflict on the Korean Peninsula, to reframing the war in a way that recognizes the thread of effort of women working for peace on the Korean Peninsula (such as done by Christine Ahn and her organization Women Cross DMZ), we reflect on various themes/ideas covered in our series on this 67th anniversary of the Armistice that paused, but has not ended, the Korean War. This show is the seventh and final show in a series focused on looking at the Korean War – we “entered the forest” of this war by beginning with Bertha von Suttner’s 1912 essay, The Barbarization of the Sky, and we have focused on how the Sky was used in the Korean war: from the aerial bombardment with napalm to leaflet filled propaganda bombs used in the PsyWar campaign. We “exit the forest” today by reflecting on what we have learned on this 67th anniversary of the Armistice that paused, but has not ended, the Korean War.
Thu, July 23, 2020
Joining us to discuss her work towards peace on the Korean Peninsula - and ending the Korean War - is activist-scholar-teacher Christine Ahn, founder of Women Cross DMZ , a global movement of women mobilizing for peace on the Korean Peninsula. This show is the sixth show in a series focused on looking at the Korean War – we have used Bertha von Suttner’s 1912 essay, The Barbarization of the Sky, as a focal point for this discussion - and we have focused on how the the Sky was used in that war. From the aerial bombardment with napalm to leaflet filled propaganda bombs used in the PsyWar campaign, we have discussed how the US Airforce used the Korean Sky. For this show, we turn to another thread connected to Bertha von Suttner’s work, the role of women in securing peace. This work began well over 100 years ago when Bertha and other women organized to support the creation of non-violent dispute mechanisms such as the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Today, this work continues as a group of international women organized by Christine Ahn are laboring to end the Korean War. An important moment of this work occurred 5 years ago in 2015, when Christine’s organization, WomenCross DMZ, crossed the DMZ - the most heavily fortified border in the world - in attempt to restart peace talks and to bring awareness to issues on the Korean Peninsula through people to people diplomacy. Special guest Christine Ahn joins us today to discuss this moment and her subsequent work towards peace in Korea.
Thu, July 16, 2020
This show is the fifth show in a series focused on looking at the Korean War by looking at how the Sky was used in that war. We have discussed strafing and aerial bombardment by the USAF in the North and South. But also dropped from planes were millions of pieces of paper carried in “leaflet bombs”. Airplanes were also outfitted with loudspeakers. These “messages” carried by airplanes were part of the Psychological Warfare (PsyWar) campaign during the Korean War, the topic of today’s show. In an article titled ‘Air Force Psychological Warfare in Korea’, the author describes the broadest intentions of psychological warfare as “the bolstering of friendly morale and the destruction of enemy morale.” This includes not only “conventional" PsyWar (leaflets and loudspeakers), but also the Airforce itself. Joining us to discuss this topic special guest retired SGM Herb Friedman, author of numerous articles on PsyWar found at psywarrior.com, including several on the Korean War.
Thu, July 09, 2020
In this 4th installment of our series commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, we explore the philosophical dimensions of the conflict. "Epistemology" is the branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of Knowledge. It asks, 'what are the conditions of Knowledge?' and 'how do we know when we know something?' The description of the Korean War as a "Forgotten War", and the fact that specific stories connected to the war have been deliberately "hidden" from public consciousness, are invitations to more deeply examine the epistemology of this important conflict. In this show, we explore the lessons that the Korean War teaches us about both truth and ignorance. Special guest Charles Hanley, Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist and author of the forthcoming book Ghost Flames (Public Affairs, 2000), joins us.
Thu, July 02, 2020
In this third installment of our series commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, Pulitzer Prize winning author and former AP investigative journalist Charles Hanley joins us as a special guest as we focus on the aerial bombardment of North Korea during the Korean War. In today’s show, we discuss the use of US/UN airpower during the Korean War, and its psychological and material impact to the ordinary person in North Korea. Largely unknown by the average American is the fact that the US airforce bombed North Korea in such a way as to cause unspeakable devastation to ordinary people in North Korea. Entire cities were destroyed as were irrigation dams that were crucial to the food supply. According to one report, not a single house in Pyonyang still possessed both four walls and a roof after the bombing campaign. In today’s show, we discuss this hidden nightmare from the forgotten war.
Thu, June 25, 2020
In 2000, Charles Hanley, with his team of Associated Press investigative reporters (Sang Hun Choe and Martha Mendoza), won the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting for uncovering a hidden nightmare in a war known in America as the "Forgotten War". Hanley and his colleagues revealed, with extensive documentation, how the United States' policy during the Korean War included the indiscriminate targeting of Korean civilians through strafing (attacking with low flying aircraft). Their jointly authored book, "The Bridge at No Gun Ri" was published in 2001. Hanley's new book on the Korean War, "Ghost Flames" , will be released in August 2020. In this special conversation that marks the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, Charles Hanley joins us as a special guest as we continue to "enter the forest" of the Korean War by looking at the barbarous acts committed from the sky - both in South Korea, and in North Korea - by the U.S. airforce. This conversation is the second installment of a series devoted to a narrative of the Korean War - which technically has not ended - by beginning with Bertha von Suttner's 1912 essay "The Barbarization of the Sky" .
Fri, June 19, 2020
This podcast begins a mini-series focused on the Korean War, known in the U.S. as "The Forgotten War." We begin the narrative (enter the forest) of this complex story through the Sky, which, as will be discussed in future episodes, played a crucial role in the Korean War. The Fifth Airforce of the then called "Far East Air Force" (currently called "Pacific Air Force") of the U.S. waged both conventional war through weapons (including chemical weapons), as well as Psychological Warfare (PsyOps) through the dropping of propaganda leaflets, actions whose consequences are well felt today. But to understand where we are today, we enter the forest in 1912, when Bertha von Suttner (1843-1914) titled her final pacifist essay “The Barbarization of the Sky” warning against the numerous horrors that would result if the sky became a theater of war. * 2020 marks the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the war, and though the years of this war are customarily given as 1951-1953, the war has technically not ended (an armistice agreement was reached in 1953). In June 2020 hostilities between the two Koreas have intensified, just two years after the historic Panmujeom summit between President Moon Jae-In (of the Republic of Korea [South Korea])) and Kim Jung-Eun (of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea [North Korea])). This show begins to weave a thread that connects the argument of Suttner's 1912 essay with the current hostilities between the 2 Koreas which have arisen out of the Korean War.
Wed, June 10, 2020
As governments in a subcommittee of the United Nations’ General Assembly were beginning to debate the content for what was to become The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in 1947, the NAACP submitted a memorial to the UN, titled “An Appeal to the World: A Statement on the Denial of Human Rights to Minorities in the Case of Citizens of Negro Descent in the United States of America and an Appeal to the United Nations for Redress”. Supervised by W.E.B. Dubois, the “Appeal" traces a thread of U.S. legal history from 1787 to 1947 that evidences the systematic discrimination against, to use the Appeal’s language, “American Negroes.” In 2016, CMU's Center for International Ethics focused its annual commemoration of Global Ethics Day on the Appeal, and also discussed how the the parents of Michael Brown (who was killed in Ferguson, MO in 2014) were trying to use UN Human Rights Machinery in Geneva, Switzerland to seek justice. This episode contains the audio of that 2016 discussion. We hope to introduce the audience to the 1947 Appeal by focusing on select passages, but also to have the listener think about the international dimensions of domestic injustices. W.E.B. Dubois wrote “[the treatment of the American Negro] is not merely an internal question of the United States. It is a basic problem of humanity... and therefore demands the attention of “the People’s of the World.” Our aim is to have the listener think hard about how “internal questions” should inform “universal values” such as human dignity and human rights, and also to refresh the listener’s memory regarding the 2016 tragedy which laid the groundwork for the international response in 2020 to the murder of George Floyd.
Thu, June 04, 2020
In his recent Press Conference with the Mayor of Atlanta, activist, rapper and teacher Michael Render (aka “Killer Mike”) urged people to “plot, plan, strategize, organize and mobilize”. Referencing the long battle towards equality assisted by organizations such as the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) and the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference), Teacher Mike urged us to place ourselves in this non-violent organizational line. In this show, we draw attention to an overlooked part of the history of organization towards peace and justice: The International Council of Women (ICW). First meeting in 1888 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Seneca Falls, the “solidarity of human interests” brought together men and women such as Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) and Clara Barton (1821-1912) . The International Council of Women laid the groundwork for women’s international support of the Peace through Law movement, work which still continues to this day. Access supporting resources our Show Resources page at: http://www.virtuesofpeace.com/resources
Fri, May 29, 2020
One of the catchphrases of the 19th Century Peace Movement (also known as the Peace through Law Movement) was "Organize the World!". In this show, we focus on that phrase, discussing the organization that peace activists called for, which included the creation of laws, of new courts, the education both of legal professionals and the public, and the equality of men and women (among other things). Our objective in this show is to have the listener appreciate the different components of organizing the world towards peace. Grounding this discussion is an essay by Edwin D. Mead, originally published in 1898, called "Organize the World!". Access that on our show resources page at: http://www.virtuesofpeace.com/resources
Fri, May 29, 2020
One of the watchwords of the 19th Century Peace Movement (also known as the Peace through Law Movement) was "Organize the World!". In this show, we focus on that phrase, discussing the organization that peace activists called for, which included the creation of laws, of new courts, the education both of legal professionals and the public, and the equality of men and women (among other things). Our objective in this show is to have the listener appreciate the different components of organizing the world towards peace. Grounding this discussion is an essay by Edwin D. Mead, originally published in 1898, called "Organize the World!". Access that on our show resources page at: http://www.virtuesofpeace.com/resources
Mon, May 18, 2020
Prior to the U.S. entry into World War I (on April 6, 1917), ordinary citizens all over the world - many of them women - agitated to pressure states to create a court that allowed for the non-violent settlement of disputes. This court, The Permanent Court of Arbitration, was the result of the historic 1899 Hague Peace Conference that opened on May 18, 1899. The creation of this court was so monumental that May 18 was celebrated, mainly in the U.S. as "Peace Day". The purpose of Peace Day? to provide a means to educate the public about the new court, and the New World Order, one that replaced the "law of force" with the "force of law". With the U.S. entry into WW1, Peace Day began to fade from the public's memory, as did the important "Peace Through Law" movement. In this show, we discuss this forgotten history and some of the persons behind it, why they should be remembered and known, and how to implement their lesson and example today. Show Resources: Brochure of the International Banner of Peace (peace flag) The Universal Peace Badge (designed in 1897 by Cora di Brazzà). Pamphlet on the History of Peace Day (originally published in 1915). Blog post on Peace Day by Hope Elizabeth May Elihu Root's 1912 Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech Trailer for 'A Taxi Driver' (May 18, 1980, Republic of Korea)
Mon, May 18, 2020
Prior to the U.S. entry into World War I (on April 6, 1917), ordinary citizens all over the world - many of them women - agitated to pressure states to create a court that allowed for the non-violent settlement of disputes. This court, The Permanent Court of Arbitration, was the result of the historic 1899 Hague Peace Conference that opened on May 18, 1899. The creation of this court was so monumental that May 18 was celebrated, mainly in the U.S. as "Peace Day". The purpose of Peace Day? to provide a means to educate the public about the new court, and the New World Order, one that replaced the "law of force" with the "force of law". With the U.S. entry into WW1, Peace Day began to fade from the public's memory, as did the important "Peace Through Law" movement. In this show, we discuss this forgotten history and some of the persons behind it, why they should be remembered and known, and how to implement their lesson and example today. Show Resources: Brochure of the International Banner of Peace (peace flag) The Universal Peace Badge (designed in 1897 by Cora di Brazzà). Pamphlet on the History of Peace Day (originally published in 1915). Blog post on Peace Day by Hope Elizabeth May Elihu Root's 1912 Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech Trailer for 'A Taxi Driver' (May 18, 1980, Republic of Korea)
Fri, May 15, 2020
This show continues our discussion of 5/8/2020, "What We Owe to Ourselves: Duties to Ourselves and What it Means to Violate Them". We began that show with a discussion of humiliation between persons ("A to B Humiliation"). We then asked whether this model can be applied to oneself. Philosophers from Plato to Kant have identified different aspects of the human psyche which can conflict with one another (Plato speaks of reason, appetite and spirit; Kant speaks of the inclinations of the "homo phenomenon" which can conflict with the moral law of the "homo noumeonon"), this making it possible to think of one of these aspects within one person as "humiliating" the other. Both Plato and Kant also identify a kind of self-knowledge as the remedy to this kind of self-humiliation. We continue discussing these ideas and connect them to "unintentional humiliation" as discussed by Dr. Evelin Lindner in her book "Making Enemies: Humiliation and International Conflict."
Fri, May 08, 2020
In Part II of his Metaphysics of Morals (1797), philosopher Immanuel Kant discusses the duties that we have to ourselves. In this show, we focus on this section of Kant’s work and discuss whether the transgression of these duties should be regarded as self-humiliation or as something else.
Thu, March 26, 2020
In his "On the Basis of Morality" (1840) Arthur Schopenhauer criticizes Immanuel Kant's ethical theory as being "cold," "unsympathetic" and "without feeling". Schopenhauer claims to depart from Kant's view as found in The Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals (1785) and Kant's later essay, The Metaphysics of Morals (1797). But is Schopenhauer's critique of Kant valid? And do Schopenhauer and Kant hold radically different views of morality? We attempt to understand this criticism and to grasp a deeper understanding of Kantian ethics by focusing on some of the concepts central thereto: The Moral Law; Inclination; Respect/Reverence; and Will. Foundational to this discussion is Part II of Paul Guyer's 2012 article "Schopenhauer, Kant and Compassion."
Tue, October 16, 2012
We continue discussing Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, focusing on the relationship between the individual, rational being and the Commonwealth or "World City". This week we will be approaching the topic from the lens of self-interest. How does Marcus Aurelius' view of a Commonwealth of rational beings connect with notions of self-interest? Further, how do Marcus Aurelius' exhortations to rid ourselves of anger and promote tolerance and patience connect with one's self-interest? These are some of the questions on which we will focus for this week's episode of EthicsTalk.
Tue, October 09, 2012
In his Meditations, Marcus Aurelius repeatedly affirms that human beings are both reasonable and social. And in Book X, Verse 2, he appears to identify a deep connection between aspects of human nature when he claims “what is reasonable is consequently also social”. In this show, we will explore the meaning of this connection. What is the nature of relationship between the reasonable and the social? Do human beings possess the natural capacity for reason to serve the social? Or are human beings social so that their rational natures can be developed? Or perhaps the reasonable and the social are inter-entailing and ‘co-dependent’ in some way. The objective of the show is to gain a better understand Marcus Aurelius’ view of the relationship between the ‘reasonable’ and ‘social’ aspects of human nature and how this facet of Marcus Aurelius’ philosophy connects with his metaphysical views about the nature of the universe and the ‘human commonwealth’
Tue, March 27, 2012
In this show, we sit down with Caitlin Cheevers (President) and Randi Shaffer (Promotional Manager) of the Central Michigan University Chapter of Invisible Children. Caitlin and Randi will discuss the hugely successful KONY 2012 campaign from the inside. Our objective is to provide our listeners with a deeper understanding of the Kony 2012 campaign - its overall aims, and the challenges it has faced. Additionally, both Caitlin and Randi will talk about how this campaign has changed the nature of their leadership positions (both have been working with Invisible Children for a number of years, well before KONY 2012 put Invisible Children on the radars of young people). If you are intrigued by Invisible Children and the Kony 2012 campaign, tune in!
Tue, March 20, 2012
In this show, we introduce the listener to 'Atrocity Law' - the legal framework which saw a growth spurt with the historic Nuremberg trials of Nazi Germany. But atrocities also occurred in World War 1 - including atrocities against the Armenian people - a Christian minority living within the then Ottoman Empire - which is currently Turkey. While Turkey does not want to label what happened to the Armenians as "genocide" - many scholars and politicians nevertheless do. In this show, we focus on the tragedy of the Armenians in order to talk about what it means -legally- to classify an atrocity as "genocide". We will also discuss different "labels" -some legal, some moral- ("Crimes Against Humanity", "violation of Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights"), which may be used to classify such tragedies
Tue, March 13, 2012
On March 8-9, 2012, The International Criminal Court Student Network (ICCSN), with generous support from Central Michigan University, convened an historic conference on the eve of the The International Criminal Court's first verdict which will be delivered on March 14, 2012, in the case of The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo. In this show, special guest Megan Blue interviews Hope Elizabeth May, who help organized the conference, and Erica Maylee who not only worked behind the scenes at the conference, but also delivered a paper on restorative justice. The aims of the show are two: to have the listener appreciate and understand one way in which education about human rights can be practiced, and that education about human rights consists not just in words, but also in actions - in activity and practice.
Wed, February 22, 2012
In her 1892 address to the U.S. Judiciary, Elizabeth Cady Stanton developed a profound argument about the importance of educational development and political equality to solitude and the proper use of one's "birthright to self-sovereignty". In this show, we focus on Elizabeth Cady Stanton's "The Solitude of Self" and its connection to the development clause of Article 26(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that "education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms."
Tue, February 14, 2012
We continue to discuss the “development clause” of Article 26(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which states that "Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms". As we will discuss, the development clause should be read in conjunction with Article 1 of the UDHR which states that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” How is "full development of the human personality" connected with “reason,” “conscience” and “the spirit of brotherhood”? Why is education aimed at "full development" so important as to be classified as a human right? In order to shed light on some possible answers to these questions, we will turn to Elizabeth Cady Stanton's 1892 address to the U.S. Judiciary, The Solitude of Self.
Wed, February 08, 2012
Article 26(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms". In this show, we discuss this article, focusing on the "development" clause. What might "full development of the human personality" look like?" and why is education aimed at "full development" so important as to be classified as a human right?
Wed, February 01, 2012
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly as both a response to World War 2 atrocities and a means to "reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person". In this show, we explore this document by focusing not only on some of its articles, but also by discussing how it connects to global justice and the rule of law.
Wed, November 16, 2011
In tonight's show, we focus on society’s search for happiness through material objects. To what extent (if any) are material objects relevant to happiness? If material objects are irrelevant to happiness, then what are the non-material components of happiness? Our discussion will incorporate some recent concepts found within the domain of positive psychology such as "the hedonic treadmill".
Wed, November 09, 2011
In his Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant famously claims that morality cannot be based on anything outside of the will. Rather, the source of morality is within the individual herself. In this show, we try to get clear on the inner resources that Kant believes are essential to moral action. To what extent is reason involved in moral action? To what extent are emotion, fear and desire involved? We will focus on these questions in this week's episode of Ethics Talk.
Tue, November 01, 2011
The historic trials of high ranking Nazi officials after World War 2 introduced "crimes against humanity" to the list of international crimes. In this show, we focus on "crimes against humanity" and the debate surrounding this category of crime. At the heart of this debate is the philosophical question about the nature of morality, and its relationship to the law and state sovereignty. Do other countries have the duty and the right to hold leaders accountable if they commit atrocities against their own people ? Were the Nuremberg trials simply another instance of the claim that justice and morality are nothing but "the interest of the stronger"? By focusing on the Nuremberg trials and the charge of "crimes against humanity," we will show how this philosophical debate has unfolded and implicated the international justice system.
Tue, October 25, 2011
In November 1945 the victors of World War 2 commenced the historic "Nuremberg Trials" - in which a number of defendants including high ranking Nazi officials like Hermann Goering (commander of the German air force or "luftwaffe") and Rudolph Hess (the deputy fuhrer) were tried for crimes against the peace, crimes against humanity and war crimes. In 1948, the U.S. conducted a second set of trials ("the subsequent Nuremberg trials") in which judges, doctors and businessmen were tried. In this show, we will focus on the trial of the judges - the "Alstotter trial" or "Justice" case - on which the award winning film "Judgement at Nuremberg" is based. By focusing on the Justice case, our aim is to have the listener appreciate the philosophical, moral and legal significance of the Nuremberg trials.
Tue, October 18, 2011
In this week's show, we continue discussing Tolstoy’s views on alcohol, focusing on Tolstoy’s arguments for complete abstinence in his essay “ "Why do People Stupefy Themselves." Tolstoy claims that even moderate drinking is profoundly harmful. But why? Are there not occasions when having a drink is indeed the right thing to do? This week's episode of Ethics Talk focuses on this question, the applicability of Tolstoy’s argument to college life, and its relevance (if any) to today.
Wed, October 12, 2011
In his "Why do People Stupefy Themselves," Leo Tolstoy writes "men drink and smoke, not to keep their spirits up, not for gayety's sake, not because it is pleasant, but in order to stifle conscience in themselves." Written at the time when the U.S. was awash in the temperance movement (but about 30 years before the passage of the 18th amendment), Tolstoy claims that even moderate drinking is profoundly harmful. This week's episode of Ethics Talk focuses on Tolstoy's 1890 essay, its applicability to college life, and its relevance (if any) today.
Wed, October 05, 2011
This week we will continue our discussion of violence, focusing specifically on violence used for so called “humanitarian efforts”. We will consider whether or not there are circumstances in which violence is acceptable. We will also discuss a phenomenon known as the “silent majority” and its implications for international conflicts. Lastly, we will address current “tools” available to governments to enforce humanitarian standards on states.
Tue, September 27, 2011
In this week's show, we discuss the relationship between violence and power. To do so, we will focus on Hannah Arendt's work "On Violence." What is the nature of power? And is violence ever a legitimate means to obtain power? When is the state justified in using violence? We will explore these questions and Arendt's answers to them on this week's episode of Ethics Talk
Wed, September 21, 2011
In this week's show, we discuss Andrew Carnegie's work "The Gospel of Wealth". In our own day, billionaires such as Warren Buffet and Bill & Melinda Gates have not only pledged to donate the majority of their wealth to charity, but also encourage their billionaire colleagues to do the same. We will not only discuss the extent to which today's billionaire philanthropists are following the Carnegie gospel, but will also focus on how The Carnegie Gospel connects to Carnegie's peace activism at the end of his life.
Mon, June 13, 2011
In this special show, broadcasted from both The Hague (Den Haag) Netherlands, as well as Leiden, Netherlands, five students from Central Michigan reflect on their experience with the International Criminal Court in Den Haag. These students are enrolled in a special course focused on the amazing and important work of the International Criminal Court, a young court which is empowered with prosecuting individuals for committing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. In fact, is was exactly a week ago today, when the students saw the Court for the first time. It was a Sunday, and the Court was closed, but it was moving nonetheless. But the students have since visited the Court and seen it "in action". To learn about the court first hand is transformational, and to witness its work is transformational. In this special show, the students discuss what has struck them in day 10 of this Netherlands adventure which ends on June 30. Follow us on our blog at http://www.romestatute.com
Tue, May 24, 2011
"Travaux Prepartories" is a term used to refer to the "preparatory works", specifically the preliminary works leading up to a treaty. Sometimes the Travaux are used to determine the intent and purpose of a treaty. Don't worry, this is not a show on the law of treaties! Rather five students reflect on their first week of an intensive course on the International Criminal Court (ICC), which will soon be transported from our classroom in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan to The Hague, Netherlands. While in the Hague, students will attend trial proceedings at the ICC and interact with scholars and personnel from the ICC, in the end learning about the court as a "human rights" operation. In this show, we will engage in a substantive discussion about what we have all learned about international criminal law. Additionally, we will discuss our expectations for the time that we will soon spend abroad. This show is entitled "travaux preparatories" because it is also functioning as a preparatory show for the shows that we will be broadcasting from The Hague in the weeks to come!
Tue, May 10, 2011
Two weeks ago, we attempted to discuss the extent to which liberty is, in fact, related to the body and one's physical confinement. The leading question was: can one still be a a slave although one is not subject to external constraints? We turned to some passages from Sartre, Hume, Aristotle and Plato (see the PDF in our 'show resources' page).We had a rich philosophical discussion about the role that consciousness, interpretation and culture are related to freedom. This week, we take a second pass at this topic and those passages. The guiding questions are these: 1) can one be enslaved by one's own body and bodily passions; and 2) to what extent does culture and society affect one's freedom? Big questions indeed, but, following Sartre, "nothing ventured, nothing gained".
Tue, April 26, 2011
Article 7 of the Rome Statute (the governing document of the International Criminal Court) identifies "severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law" as a crime against humanity. In last week's show, we explored the extent to which slavery may NOT involve a "severe deprivation of physical liberty." Can one to be a slave to one's passions? If so, does this imply that others have a duty to help us guard against such "affective slavery"? To focus our discussion, we will concentrate on some passages from Sartre, Hume, Plato and Aristotle that are available in the "show resources" section of our website.
Tue, April 19, 2011
What was it to be a slave in antiquity? How did ancient societies view their slaves, and how does this compare with antebellum slavers? What did Aristotle mean when he said some men were natural slaves? To discuss these and other questions, the ethicstalk team welcomes Dr. Greg Smith, professor in CMU's History Department, for this Human Rights Month special on Slavery.
Sun, April 03, 2011
In this show, we continue our conversation about the Ethics of Eating with special guests Campus Grow. In last week's show, we focused on some facts about the U.S. food system. This week, we aim to discuss the ethical dimension of those facts, with a special emphasis on personal action and steps that the individual can take to become more ethical regarding food choices.
Sun, March 27, 2011
Join us tonight on Ethics Talk as we sit down with our friends from Campus Grow. We will discuss the current state of our global food system. We will take a look at the impacts of subsidies, GMOs (genetically modified organisms), and the global dependence on imports/exports. Consider: Where did your dinner come from? Where should it come from? Who is impacted in what way when I eat? Are the ethical dimensions of food so grave as to implicate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? These are just a few of the questions that will be addressed on this week's episode of Ethics Talk.
Sun, March 20, 2011
Ever wondered why Division 1 College Football has the Bowl Championship System instead of a true playoff series? Can you explain why some students athletes (Terrelle Pryor, Jeremy Bloom) seem to get the short end of the stick while others (Cam Newton, Tom Zbikowski) are treated like royalty? On this show, ethicstalk welcomes Dr. Adam Epstein live on 91.5 to discuss the NCAA as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation, it's role in collegiate America, and it's legislative history in U.S. courts.
Tue, March 15, 2011
In this show, special guests Pratik Chhetri and Samik Upadhaya (both Central Michigan University students from Nepal), will discuss mission of Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) and most importantly, its core values. Our discussion will also revolve around some of UAEM's projects and their relevance and importance. We will talk about social justice regarding health equity globally. We will also discuss neglected diseases also known as "diseases of poverty" and UAEM's fight to promote access to essential medicines and health related technologies to help eliminate these diseases. Surrounding this premise, we will talk about a conference that UAEM Central Michigan University (CMU) chapter is organizing entitled "Improving Global and Local Healthcare Disparities: A Collaboration across Disciplines" and will be held on April 2nd and 3rd at CMU. The conference aims to raise awareness regarding global and some local healthcare disparities. We will also discuss about identifying and exploring resources available at CMU and beyond to tackle global issues such as healthcare. For more information on the UAEM click here, and to learn more about the conference at CMU, click here.
Thu, March 10, 2011
This special episode of Ethics Talk will be airing from The Hague, Netherlands (hence the odd air time of 1:00 am, which is 7pm Hague time), home to many international courts of law. The International Criminal Court (ICC), a relatively new court, has officially decided to investigate the situation in Libya. This show will have special guests from the ICCSN (The International Criminal Court Student Network) as well as officials from the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC). Please join us for a conversation about how the international legal community is grappling with the issue of Libya. Our aim in this show is to help our listeners understand the ICC's investigation of Libya and its significance.
Mon, February 28, 2011
We continue our Modern Rock 91.5 format with a show that is fitting for the debauchery in which college students engage during Spring Break. Dr. Michael Sandstrom, of the CMU neuroscience department, will join the discussion about the neuroscientific dimensions of partying. Among the questions to be addressed will be the neuroscientfic definition of "addiction", and the relationship between the "drunken self" and the "true self." Our objective is to arm you with enabling knowledge in order make your Spring Break memorable, rather than something that you cannot even remember.
Sun, February 20, 2011
We begin this semester's Modern Rock 91.5 show with a show on the art of partying. We are all familiar with the term "binge drinking" but is there a happy medium between a quiet evening and a Dionysian keg party? If so, what would it look like? On this show, we'd like to discuss whether a "virtuous party" is possible, and how college students might achieve it. Please join us if you have some thoughts on the matter, or even if you'd like to discuss your brew of choice!
Wed, February 16, 2011
At a time in which Lady Gaga is seen as an agent who awakens the "True Self" of her fans, we go back in time to 1841, when Ralph Waldo Emerson penned "Imitation is Suicide" and "Trust Thyself," and "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself" in his essay "Self-Reliance". In this week's episode, we will make an attempt to discuss Emerson's important essay and, in the spirit of Emerson, will leave it to the listener to decide whether Emerson or Lady Gaga better delivers the message that the true human being is a non-comformist.
Wed, February 09, 2011
In this show, we continue discussing Ralph Waldo Emerson's 1837 essay "The American Scholar." Last week, members of Ethics Talk decided to all read "The American Scholar" and we began to discuss the lessons we learned from this essay. One hour was not long enough, so we continue the discussion today. Although this show is a continuation of last week's show, it will be "self-sustaining" and comprehensible on its own.
Tue, February 01, 2011
Ralph Waldo Emerson's: The American Scholar In 1837, Ralph Waldo Emerson gave a famous lecture entitled "The American Scholar". In the essay, Emerson notes (among many other things) that there is "creative reading" as well as "creative reading". To that end, the members of Ethics Talk decided to all read "The American Scholar" - an essay which no one of us has yet read. Nor are any of us "experts" on Emerson. We think, though, that Emerson may approve of our effort to come together and discuss the ideas within the essay. So, in this show, we discuss what lessons we learned from "The American Scholar" not just for "Americans" but for all human beings yearning for the True, the Good and The Beautiful.
Wed, January 26, 2011
Philosophers have developed a number of arguments which pertain not only to the existence of God, but also to the question of whether, even if God's existence cannot be proven with logical methods, we should believe in God nonetheless. In this show, we will not only explore the so called 'analytical approach' to the existence of God, but will also discuss pragmatic and psychological considerations in believing that there is a 'higher power'.
Wed, January 19, 2011
Can every citizen of a free society community have access to health care, education, or capital for investment? How much can truth and knowledge offer to political theory? Can certain positive freedoms be considered inalienable human rights? On tonight’s show we discuss the alternative views on the duties of the government and how these alternatives are rooted in different views of human nature and the needs and wants of human beings. Founded in the idea that truth is a rare ideal outside of mathematics, this conversation is meant to explore some idealizations people might share or disagree about. Let us know your thoughts tonight on Ethics Talk.
Wed, January 12, 2011
In this show, we discuss the connection between human nature and the "political ecosystem" in which a human being finds itself. Views of human nature have political consequences. In addition to exploring the political consequences of some rival theories of human nature, we will also explore the question of whether the political system in the United States rests on an adequate view of human nature.
Wed, January 05, 2011
In this show, we discuss the postmodern critique of the enlightenment and western reason. Postmoderns eschew notions like 'absolute truth' and certainty. We discuss the merits of the postmodern position.
Wed, December 22, 2010
Thinking about going to law school and taking the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test)? Wondering when, what, and how hard to study? In this show, some of the Ethics Talk hosts discuss the LSAT and their recent experiences preparing and taking it.
Wed, December 15, 2010
Join us for a conversation with Krystal Penrose, who is a 2010/2011 "Are You Credit Wise" intern and a student at Central Michigan University. With the support of national student leaders, MasterCard Worldwide developed "Are You Credit Wise?" (AYCW), a campus-based, peer-to-peer education program that provides money management information to college students. There are 10 AYCW interns throughout the country who are trained to lead campus-wide education campaigns focused on the fundamentals of good credit habits. Join us for a conversation with a student expert who will provide us information on the alarming financial status of college students, the recently enacted "Card Act", and why it is important for young people to be "Credit Wise".
Wed, December 08, 2010
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Nolan Kaiser, an expert on political philosophy and constitutional jurisprudence who taught at Central Michigan University for over 40 years. Dr. Kaiser lost his sight and left hand in a tragic accident when he was 14 years old, but was nevertheless able to obtain a doctorate in philosophy and become an important figure in protecting the rights of the disabled. In this show, we discuss the United States' Constitutional Democracy and its relationship to the middle class. The show will provide the listener with a brief overview of the history of our constitutional democracy, including important judicial and legislative acts aimed at the promotion of individual autonomy. Dr. Kaiser will argue that the health of the middle class is evidence that our constitutional democracy is working. And given that the middle class continues to suffer, Dr. Kaiser will argue that the values that allowed this country to flourish are no longer respect
Wed, December 01, 2010
This week's episode is a special episode of Ethics Talk. The Center for Professional and Personal Ethics at Central Michigan University was a participating organization in Story Corps' 'National Day of Listening'. As such, Hope May, Director of the Center interviewed 5 important individuals within her community about defining moments in their lives. Among the interviewed are:1) Dr. Nolan Kaiser, who lost his sight and his left hand at age 14 whilst replicating one of Thomas Edison's experiments. Nevertheless, Nolan earned a doctorate in philosophy and taught at CMU for over 40 years. Nolan explains how losing his accident actually helped him to see more clearly. 2) Deanna Heath, a remarkable woman who was formidable in raising the funds for Mt. Pleasant's Woodland Hospice, where she served for its Director for several years. Despite her success in this role, she left to return to earn Masters in Social Work. In the interview, she explains why.3) Dr. Bruce Roscoe, who has served as the Dean of Students of CMU since 1997. In this interview, we learn that although there is a dark side to Bruce's work, specifically dealing with the deaths of students, this part of his job has given him both professional and personal insights, and a deepened appreciation for the lives of young people. 4) Sally Goodrow, whose husband, John, was rector at St. John's Episcopal parish. Father Goodrow's mission included helping those in the community. Sally discusses the unexpected death of her husband in 1987 and how she decided to preserve his legacy by forming the "Goodrow Fund" which continues to provide critical services to the community.5) Dr. Jeffrey Wigand subject of the academy award nominated film 'The Insider', discusses how the lessons learned in childhood played a role in his decision to tackle the tobacco industry and his commitment to education. Wigand now serves on the Board of Education of Mt. Pleasant, MI.
Wed, November 24, 2010
Join us for a conversation with Andree Sosler, Executive Director The Darfur Stoves Project. As we have discussed on previous shows, the situation in Darfur is a genocide happening "on our watch". The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrants for top ranking Sudanese officials, but millions of Darfur is continue to be affected and displaced. The two million displaced Darfuris currently living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps receive food aid and cooking oil from a variety of humanitarian aid organizations. However, they are still responsible for gathering firewood as fuel for cooking. Due to the aridity of the land and the size of the camps, wood is scarce and growing scarcer. With deforestation, women and young girls must walk further and further from the relative safety of the camps in search of wood. Today, Darfuri women must walk up to seven hours, three to five times per week, just to find a single tree. These searches are the main reason why Darfuri women and girls leave the relative safety of the camps for the open countryside, where they are vulnerable to violent attacks and sexual assault.The mission of the Darfur Stoves Project is to improve the safety and wellbeing of internally displaced persons in Darfur by providing fuel-efficient cookstoves. The Berkeley-Darfur Stove reduces the quantity of firewood women need to cook for their families by at least 50 percent. This allows Darfuri women to dramatically reduce the amount of time spent outside the camps collecting firewood. Executive Director of the Darfur Stoves Project, Andree Sosler, discusses her recent 3 week visit to Darfur, as well as the impact that her organization is having is mitigating the atrocities caused by the Darfur tragedy.
Sun, November 14, 2010
Philosopher Cass Sunstein describes a "norm entrepreneur" as an individual who recognizes that the commitment to existing norms is a fragile thing. Further, norm entrepreneurs harness this fragility to move society to express a different set of norms. Mohandas Ghandi, for example, was a norm entrepreneur, a change agent. In ths show, we are joined by special guests and norm entrepreneurs: Director Pamela Yates, Producer, Paco de Onis, and social media guru, Alejandro de Onis, all of Skylight Pictures. Collectively, these three talented individuals are spearheading a formidable movement to raise awareness about human rights abuses and International Justice. Their latest film, "The Reckoning: The Battle for the International Criminal Court," tells the incredible story of how the international community came to together to form the first "Court of Humanity". International Justice Central (ijcentral.org), an outgrowth of Skylight Pictures, harnesses the power of social media to build a community that supports the Rule of Law. Join us as we discuss how the lives of Pam, Paco and Alejandro led them to use their creativity and innovation to raise consciousness about International Justice and Human Rights.
Thu, November 04, 2010
Lauren Henke, movement coordinator of Invisible Children joins us for a special episode of Ethics Talk. Invisible Children is a movement that uses film, creativity and social action to end the use of child soldiers in Joseph Kony's rebel war and restore Northern Uganda to peace and prosperity. In this show, Lauren will tell us about the latest developments regarding the powerfully inspiring actions of Invisible Children.
Sun, October 31, 2010
On November 4th and 5th, 2010, Central Michigan University will return the remains of 144 Saginaw Chippewa tribal ancestors and associated funerary objects to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, for proper burial. This historical event has been years in the making, mainly due to the Federal Guidelines that govern the return of ancestral remains under the 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). In this special show, we are joined by special guests Dr. Pamela Gates, interim Dean of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences at Central Michigan University and Shannon Martin, Director of the Ziibiwing Center. Both individuals were instrumental in the organization of this historic event. Prepared to be moved as we will discuss how this poignant event came to pass, and what it means for CMU and the Native American Community.
Sun, October 24, 2010
How should we think about alcohol? Can consumption of alcohol be a good thing, from an ethical perspective? Is there a ‘best’ alcohol? What interests are served by our minimum drinking age, and how should we think about exceptions? (i.e, Wisconsin) Contrary to popular belief, there’s more to beer than getting drunk, and we eve plan to consult Aristotle on the topic. Join special guests Dr. John Meixner, Dr. Joshua Smith and the rest of the Ethics Talk crew discuss these and other questions that pertain to the ethics of alcohol.
Tue, October 19, 2010
Today, the average understanding of the soul can generally be categorized one of two ways: either we see the soul as some mystical or metaphysical entity which is separate from the body (dualism), or we deny the existence of a soul altogether. Historical views of the soul, as it turns out, are not so neatly categorized. On this week’s show, the Ethicstalk team is joined by special guest Dr. Gregory Smith and Dr. Michael Russo on a tour of ancient views of the soul from a variety of periods and cultures. Before tuning in, ask yourself a simple question: “How much does a soul weigh?”
Sun, October 10, 2010
Where do the rules for our favorite sports come from? What is really going on when referees get the call 'wrong' (think Armando Galaragga, Calvin Johnson, and Frank Lampard.) How should we think about the use of performance enhancing drugs in sports? How do the rules of a game, the referee, and instant replay interact? If you're interested in seeking the answers to these questions, please join guest hosts Dr. Joshua Smith and Dr. Adam Epstein for our first Modern Rock 91.5 show of the season.
Tue, October 05, 2010
Tonight's show will focus on how neuroscience is helping us to appreciate the role that reasons and emotions play in moral behavior. Once again, we will be joined by Dr. Michael Sandstrom, Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Central Michigan University.
Tue, September 28, 2010
Ethics Talk welcomes Dr. Michael Sandstrom, Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Central Michigan University. Dr. Sandstrom will discuss how, if at all, findings in neuroscience shed light on the debate about free will and responsibility. Dr. Sandstrom earned his doctorate in Neuroscience from Ohio State University in 1998. He has focused his career on understanding the mechanisms of plasticity and compensation in the brain, and how brain function modifies itself to continue to support important goals even in circumstances of disease and damage.
Wed, September 22, 2010
Special guest Jennifer Schense, joins us in a conversation about the Darfur Tragedy. Ms. Schense is International Cooperation Adviser and specialist on Darfur at the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has been investigating the tragedy for a number of years. In addition to discussing the status of the ICC investigation, Ms. Schense will discuss a momentous meeting on September 24, 2010 of the UN General Assembly. At that meeting, members of the U.N. Security Council and other parties interested in Sudan will focus on the current state of Darfur. President Obama will attend this meeting in an effort to focus international attention on Darfur. Ms. Schense will discuss the importance of the 9/24 meeting and the efforts of both state and non-state actors in attempting to address the human tragedy that continues to happen "on our watch".
Tue, September 14, 2010
In this show, we provide an introduction to Darfur and focus on the claim that a genocide is happening "on our watch." We discuss the definition of genocide as well as the complex issues involved in prosecuting the President of Sudan for genocide and other international crimes.
Tue, August 31, 2010
One of the perennial questions that vexes moral philosophers is "why be moral?" Thinkers from Ancient Greece (at least some of them), equated this question with "why be just"? In this show, we will address the answer to this question that is offered by Plato and Aristotle. Throughout the show, we will highlight similarities and differences between ancient greek conceptions of justice and morality, on the one hand, and our modern conceptions of justice and morality, on the other. Specifically, we will explore the ancient conception that Justice is a virtue of the soul, something internal -- and contrast that with the modern view that to "seek justice" is to involve the judicial machinery of a society.
Tue, August 24, 2010
A "thought experiment" is a tool that is ubiquitously used in philosophy to help unpack one's intuitions about some concept. In last week's show about justice, we discussed the famous "Trolley Problem" a famous thought experiment that unleashes our intuitions about ethics issues concerning killing. Thought experiments have been the source of ridicule of philosophy -- to wit -- the popular characterization of philosophers as asking pointless questions such as "how many angels can dance on the head of pin." This week's show examines the use of thought experiments in ethics. Consider: if ethics is concerned with behavior, then questions arise as to the impact, if any, that thought experiments have on behavior; if ethics is concerned with reason, then questions arise as to the impact, if any, that thought experiments have on reason; and if ethics is concerned with a type of moral perception, questions arise as to the impact, if any, that thought experiments have on perception. We will begin to explore these questions and as always encourage our listeners to call in with their insights.
Tue, August 17, 2010
Over 2000 years ago Plato defined Justice as "harmony of the soul", shortly thereafter, Plato's student, Aristotle claims that justice is imperfect and that "equity", a corrective of justice is higher than justice. In the 20th century, the great political philosopher John Rawls noted the connection between justice and fairness. One could argue, however, that despite the numerous theories of justice, we nonetheless continue to deal with countless INjustices. Why is this? Is theorizing about justice fruitless? Does the effortful striving towards justice do more harm than good? This show will address these questions and will incorporate some of the insights of the Taoist philosophers Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu. Put bluntly, in this show, we continue to discuss the relationships amongst 1)philosophy, 2)justice, and 3)activity.
Tue, August 10, 2010
We continue last week's discussion about the perils and promised of philosophy and contemplation. In that show, we focused on the claim made by Plato's Gorgias, that intense philosophizing leads to a life of "out of touchness". We pick up our discussion about the relationship between philosophy and action. Does philosophical activity -- owing to its unique pleasure -- make practical activity less likely? We focus our discussion on Justice and engage in a discussion about the relationship between justice and activity.
Tue, August 03, 2010
In Plato's Gorgias, the character of Callicles criticizes the contemplative life. He tells Socrates that if philosophy is pursued in moderation and at the proper age, then it is "an elegant accomplishment". Too much philosophy, however, is the ruin of human life. In this week's show, we consider this claim.
Tue, July 27, 2010
The modern printing press was developed in the 1400s. According to scholars, what followed was an "information overload" and the subsequent development of strategies and materials to cope with this overload. These strategies, of course, were developed in a pre-google, pre-blog, pre-kindle era. In this show, we discuss some of these pre-modern strategies and their applicability to the current information overload. Does having an ocean of digital information at one's fingertips facilitate our understanding? Or, does it overwhelm and intimidate us? We will discuss obstacles and challenges that we all face in the attaining and retaining of substantive information in the digital age. We presume that the purpose of reading and writing is the "epiphanic experience" or "aha moment". Given that such experiences are both pleasurable and valuable, they need to be perserved and maximized. Thus, we will also discuss strategies for ovecoming the obstacles to these epiphanic experiences posed by the information overload.
Tue, July 20, 2010
In last week's show we discussed the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the fact that its existence is premised on the belief that there are human rights which transcend any culture, state, government etc. The ICC also seems to presume that taking human rights serious requires us to hold accountable those who are most responsible for the violation of these rights. However, some argue that holding wrongdoers accountable can actually "fan the flames", exacerbate tensions, and disrupt peace negotiations in conflict ridden areas. This disagreement will have us conversing about how peace is best perpetuated and made to last. Is it practical to have peace be maintained through peaceful means? If peace is the ultimate goal for which we should be striving, do arrest warrants and criminal trials impede this goal? Are arrest warrants issued by the international community necessary to attain peace, or are other methods available?
Tue, July 13, 2010
In this show, we discuss moral relativism, the philosophical view that holds that moral truths are relative to a culture. However, the notion of "human rights" seems to negate this view and the emergence of the International Criminal Court (ICC) seems to point towards a world in which relativism is no longer tenable. In this show, we discuss the impact of the ICC on theories of moral subjectivism and relativism.
Tue, July 06, 2010
After a broad discussion of solitude last week, whch including references to Confucius, Viktor Frankl, Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi, Henry David Thoreau and Jean Paul Sartre, we are attempting to narrow our focus. Among the questions we will explore include: Are we scared to be alone, and if so,why? Does time spent in solace guarantee that one will grow as an individual? and How can we tell the difference between 'good' and 'bad'uses of leisure time? If an individual is able to 'shake off' the overbearing influence of society (a la Thoreau) - where should she go from there?
Tue, June 29, 2010
This week's show focuses on the virtues and/or vices with solitude. A wise man once said that the problem with the millennial generation (i.e. twenty-somethings) is that we can’t stand to be alone. He saw this as a great problem to one being able to grow as an individual. He is not the only one that shares this sentiment. Some would say that the fear of being alone is an altogether human problem. However, being alone does not seem to guarantee that one will grow as an individual. Are we scared to be alone, and if so, why? What does spending time in solitude offer? And what makes up the quality of that time we spend alone? As always we hope our listeners will think about these questions and engage us with their thoughts and insights.
Tue, June 22, 2010
In today's show we will discuss whether drugs have an adverse or beneficial relationship with ones way of living and whether or not it is within one's liberty to destroy their body with drugs. According to John Stuart Mill's conception of liberty, it seems that using drugs is within one's liberty so long as it does not harm anyone else. However, determining the relationship between using and/or abusing drugs and how it harms others is unclear. Can recreational drug use serve as a benefit to humans? And should the purpose of laws be to protect us or to encourage our flourishing? As always we encourage our listeners to call-in with insights, comments or disagreements.
Wed, June 16, 2010
Following up from last week, this show will explore varying cultural attitudes toward sex (chiefly, Buddhist tantra) and compare/contrast them to the traditional western ideal. Among the questions that we will address are: Can we evaluate sexuality in a normative way? How do values underlying sexual attitudes differ from one culture to another? Is sex better characterized as a biological process of reproduction, or an important social artifact?
Tue, June 08, 2010
This show will the prevailing cultural attitudes toward sex. Among the questions that we address are: what norms and values underlie our attitudes towards sexuality? Is sex better characterized as a biological process of reproduction, or an important social artifact?
Tue, June 01, 2010
In this show, we discuss the connection between advertising, culture and the norms by which one's cultural identity is formed. Is advertising a reflection of our society's norms? Or are society's norms a reflection of advertising? To what extent does the marketing world influence the moral norms that are constitutive of our cultural identities? Tonight we will discuss these and other questions relating to ethics in advertising.
Tue, May 25, 2010
In this show we welcome fellow philosophy students Lauren Kustner, David Pederson and Shivani Radhakrishnan, all of Princeton University, who are members of Princeton's Anscombe Society. Among the principles for which the society stands is the principle that the proper function of sexual relationships is within the marital context between a man and a woman. We will discuss the mission of the society, and how the society has been received by fellow students and the media. We will also focus on the virtue of chastity and its connection to self-control and well being.
Tue, May 18, 2010
In our last show, we formed a broad definition of culture, and began to discuss to what extent it affected societal ideology. We'd like to enhance that conversation tonight by introducing personal identity, and discussing how the three relate. Specific questions that we will address include "Are social norms dictated by culture?", "How does this affect personal identity?" and "How might an individual become unbridled from culture?" Finally, we'd like to consult Marxist ideas and see what they have to see about the interplay.
Tue, May 11, 2010
In this show we will be discussing the nature of ideology. What is it? Where does it come from? After developing a definition of ideology to work with, we will go over possible effects culture has on our ideology. In order to assist this conversation we will look at Karl Marx's base- superstructure relation. We went there for a bit, and then talked about universal or fundamental needs such as love which were posited as being logically prior to culture.
Wed, May 05, 2010
In this show, philosophy professors Hope May and Michael Russo focus on how James' pragmatic theory of truth pertains to religious beliefs and his notion of "healthy mindedness." Indeed, one of the primary motivations for James' theory of truth is to allow religious beliefs to be justified, and in his "The Varieties of Religious Experience," he discusses the so called "religion of healthy mindedness." We will focus on this aspect of James' thought.
Sun, April 25, 2010
Join us for an inspiring discussion with Justin Rydzewski and Wayne Blanchard, who, as Central Michigan University students, not only brainstormed a social entrepreneurial idea to help both Main Street and the American Red Cross, but also made the idea a reality. Their project, called "Downtown for a Pint", was so successful that they are about to launch "Downtown for a Pint 2". Justin and Wayne will discuss both the logistical and motivational challenges that they faced, and the strategies and inner resources that were implemented to overcome these challenges.
Tue, April 20, 2010
In this show, philosophy professors Hope May & Michael Russo continue to discuss William James' theory of truth. We began to discuss this topic in our episode from April 6, 2010 (check our archives), and we continue that discussion here. According to James, truth is dynamic and *happens* to belief. This "DYNAMISM" is complex and is key, as we will discuss tonight. Our objectives: to help you understand the deep divide between the correspondence & pragmatic theories of truth. To do so, we take on the compexities of "dynamism" inherent in James' view of Truth, Reality and Self.
Sun, April 11, 2010
Award winning journalist and author Dave Cullen, author of the book Columbine, will discuss the 1999 high school tragedy. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold had planned to destroy their high school months before the fateful day in April. Their plan to destroy the school failed, but they killed 15 individuals (including themselves) and injured others, both physically and mentally. We will discuss not only the killers and their profoundly different motives, but also the effect that the tragedy had on the survivors and, most interestingly, on Cullen himself, who spent 10 years working on his critically acclaimed book. This show will be simulcast on blogtalkradio, but listen to the HD stream provided by 91.5 available here to get best listening experience.
Tue, April 06, 2010
In this show, philosophy professors Hope May & Michael Russo discuss William James' theory of truth. According to James, truth is dynamic and *happens* to belief. True beliefs are also what "work" and are "profitable". But just does what does a well-working profitable belief look like? We discuss. Listen and call in with your insights.
Tue, March 30, 2010
In this show, we interview the remarkable Casey Smith, a senior at Central Michigan University. Although Casey would describe himself as an "average Joe" he is anything but that. At one point weighing 385 pounds, Casey decided "enough" and was determined to turn his life around. Note only did he succeed in bringing down his weight, he realized his vision of creating a non-profit called "Cleat Repeat" (http://www.cleatrepeat.org) that distributes sports equipment to needy children. Michigan may conjure up images of depression and despair, but as Casey' example shows, there is inspiration and magic in us all if we are just willing to do the work to make it grow.
Sun, March 21, 2010
The recession has caused many to question the value of Capitalism the free market. Entrepreneur Michael Strong discusses the power of free markets to solve world problems. Michael Strong is a pioneer in education and independent learning. He is the author of The Habit of Thought: From Socratic Seminars to Socratic Practice, and Be The Solution: How Entrepreneurs and Conscious Capitalists Can Solve All the World’s Problems. In addition to creating innovative Socratic, Montessori, and Paideia schools throughout the country, Michael is also co-founder, CEO and Chief Visionary Officer of FLOW, the brainchild of Michael and John Mackey: Founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market. FLOW is an organization aimed at unleashing the creativity of individuals to bring entrepreneurial solutions to world problems.
Sun, March 14, 2010
When she was a sophomore at Yale, Kirsten founded National Student Partnerships, now named LIFT. LIFT is a growing movement to combat poverty and expand opportunity in the United States. LIFT recruits and trains a diverse corps of students who make a rigorous and sustained commitment to service while in school. LIFT’s student advocates work side-by-side with low-income community members, first helping them address immediate needs (e.g., employment, housing, health care, public benefits, and/or education), then providing comprehensive, long-term support designed to help families break the cycle of poverty. Simultaneously, these student advocates gain the direct exposure, insight, and compassion necessary to be lifelong advocates for systemic change on poverty policy, regardless of the professional path they ultimately pursue. Join us for a conversation about Kirsten’s journey, and about how LIFT has provided meaning and purpose not just to its participant’s lives, but also to Kirsten’s.
Sun, February 28, 2010
In this show we will discuss the relationship between disagreement and truth with Dr. Joshua Smith, a Professor of Philosophy at Central Michigan University. When human beings disagree, does that mean that there is no truth? To what extent, if any, does one's belief affect the truth? What MAKES a belief true, if anything? And can we talk about "truth" independent of belief?
Wed, February 24, 2010
This week's show continues one of the issues discussed in last week's show about the tenuous relationship between authenticity/individuality and group supported ideology. As we began to discuss, a group supported belief-set alienate outsiders and those who challenge this belief set. In so doing, a hostile environment of one's social group may undermine an individual's authenticity. So, the central question in this show, relevant to both the individual and group belief sets, will be why and how authenticity is encouraged by the manner in which beliefs are held.
Wed, February 17, 2010
In this show, we discuss the nature of beliefs with a focus on religious beliefs, and try to figure out if religious beliefs are justifiable on a reasonable basis. If it is important that other beliefs are justified on a reasonable basis, then why can or can't religious beliefs be the exception? This question is central to the flow of the dialogue.
Mon, February 08, 2010
In this show, we discuss the topic of academic disengagement. Why do some students stop going to class and tune out? When a student tunes out of her college education, is the best thing the "tough love" approach and have her hit rock bottom? Or should there be guidance, nurture and support to get her back on track? Discussing these latter questions will involve us in a discussion about CMU's policies on academic probation and dismissal. Note: due to some technical difficulties the first 8 minutes of the show were not recorded.
Wed, February 03, 2010
In this show, we continue last week's discussion on free will. After discussing a number of different philosophical theories (determinism, compatibilism, chaos theory), we will also discuss the importance of agency. As we hope to show, the topic of free will is not only philosophically fascinating but also has profound implications for one's self-concept and moral identity.
Wed, January 27, 2010
In this show, we discuss the free will debate. We explore differing theories of agency, from chaos theory to predestination. After laying out baseline descriptions of free will and determinism, we'll be testing them for compatibility (or lack thereof) in several modes. Our discussion is grounded on the seminal article "Freedom of the Will and the Concept of a Person" by Harry Frankfurt.
Wed, January 20, 2010
Ethics Talk welcomes Dr. Jeffrey Wigand for the second part of his interview (the first interview can be accessed via our archives). Dr. Wigand will discuss the final moments which led him to take action and break ranks with the tobacco industry. The phone lines will be open to take your calls.
Sun, January 17, 2010
This was the first episode that aired on 91.5 Modern Rock. We were a little nervous as the setting was entirely different, but listen up as we begin the next evolution of Ethics Talk. Nick, Emily and Hope discuss the Tombstone question in connection with idea that college is the time to “live it up.” By reflecting on the ideas of William James, an important psychologist and philosopher, we discuss the flaws and dangers of thinking that college is the last chance to live it up. As we will discuss, these years are formative and provide a “crucible of character” through which your identity and long term habits are formed.
Wed, January 06, 2010
In this show, philosophy professors Hope May and Michael Russo continue their discussion that aired on 12/29/09. In that show, we discussed the different types of insight or “aha” moments and how such moments are connected cultivation of virtue and flourishing. We continue that discussion in the show, focusing on how one cultivates the habit of insight and the extent to which such cultivation depends upon others
Wed, December 30, 2009
In this show, philosophy professors Hope May and Michael Russo continue their discussion about the role that the body plays in the cultivation of virtue and flourishing that aired on December 8, 2009. In that show, we discussed the crucial role that the "AHA" or "Eureka" moment plays in human flourishing. We continue that discussion in the show, focusing on how one cultivates the habit of insight.
Wed, December 23, 2009
In this week's episode we will be discussing the concept of forgiveness. Drawing from the experiences of Holocaust survivor, Eva Kor, and the families of victims of the 9/11 attacks, we will discuss whether or not forgiveness is possible or even desirable. Questions regarding the prerequisites of forgiveness will be addressed, as well as the benefits of forgiveness, both on the individual and society as a whole.
Wed, December 16, 2009
In this show, we discuss two issues: 1) how one best motivates an individual to go to college and 2) whether the goal of college should be the focal concern of K-12 educators. The inspiration for this discussion comes from the work of Geoffrey Canada, a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Originally from the South Bronx, Canada made it his goal to return to Harlem to educate and motivate children to go to college. He started the Harlem Children's Zone, a charter school, and numerous after school programs. In Canada's view, all of the children in his programs should and will go to college, and he is committed to doing everything in his power to achieve this. The issue here, however, is that because his goal centers on getting children into college, he is willing to employ external rewards to motivate his students rather than focusing on the cultivation of intrinsic motivation. The question is then: Is this beneficial for them in the long run? Moreover, is his goal of getting EVERY child into college the best idea? Is college "right" for everyone? Is the near universal belief that “getting into college” is the measure of K-12 efficacy correct? We discuss.
Wed, December 09, 2009
In this show, we discuss Aristotle's conception of virtue and his ethical theory with Dr. Michael Russo. Specifically, we focus on the role that the body plays in the acquisition of moral excellence. As we will discuss, Aristotle's view runs counter to the movement in education which presumes that taking oaths and taking more ethics classes is the proper means by which to cultivate character.
Wed, December 02, 2009
In this show we will discuss the value of suffering. So often the assumption is that suffering is bad and joy is good. But perhaps pain and suffering are necessary for something greater. We will explore this assumption through ideas put forward by Viktor Frankl in "Man's Search for Meaning", Sufi mystic ideas about the "pleased self", and other philosophical sources. We will also apply experiences from our own life. As always, we hope for callers to comment or question on the ideas being explored. Do you find meaning in suffering?
Tue, November 24, 2009
In this show, we discuss an important theory of motivation known as Self-determination theory. According to self-determination theory, human flourishing depends upon satisfying three fundamental needs: the need for autonomy, for competence, and for relatedness. Central to this theory’s definition of “autonomy” is the notion of an intrinsically motivating activity -- an activity done for its own sake rather than for the sake of external rewards like money, grades or ‘status’. Joining us will be special guest, Dr. Chantal Levesque-Bristol, associate professor of psychology who specializes in self-determination theory. Dr. Bristol also is the Director of the Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning at Missouri State University. Our objective in this show is to introduce the listener to self-determination theory as well as reveal its ancient roots in the philosophy of Aristotle.
Wed, November 18, 2009
In this show, we discuss the value of philosophical discussion, especially during the "college years" when one is searching for and forming one's identity. Groups like the "Socrates Cafe" and "philosophy clubs" obviously acknowledge the value of philosophical discussion. But what is this value precisely? And do universities offer enough opportunities for it? Join us and special guest Nicholas Cavallo for a discussion about why philosophical discussion matters.
Wed, November 11, 2009
In this show, we interview Dr. Ginger Campbell, host of the popular Brain Science Podcast, which focuses on contemporary findings in the field of neuroscience. Our focus of the show is not on the subject of neuroscience (for that, you need to listen to the Brain Science Podcast!). Rather, our focus is on Dr. Campbell herself -- the brain behind the Brain Science Podcast. Specifically, we will be talking about Dr. Campbell’s journey as a podcaster which began in 2006, and her motivation for creating and continue to improve the Brain Science Podcast. Also joining us will be Diane Jacobs, who volunteers her time to make the Brain Science Podcast an extremely valuable free educational resource. This show will be of interest not only to those who are interested in starting their own podcast, but also to those interested in the topic of intrinsic motivation, lifelong learning, and the power of the internet to help one find one’s calling.
Wed, November 04, 2009
In this show, our objective is to draw attention to the positive, therapeutic effects of humor and laughter. Some argue that humor can assist people with coping, motivation, and survival. Research has shown that laughing out loud can have positive physiological effects even when the laughter is initially faked. Cancer patients are using humor, now being referred to as “cancertainment”, to bear their daily struggles in the form of things like radio shows, stand-up comedies, and blogs. Educators are evoking humor and laughter in the classroom as a way of getting students engaged. Since there seems to be an array of therapeutic uses of humor and laughter, we discuss the research and the stories behind these uses bringing this human pleasantry to the forefront of our thinking. Joining us with be special guest Jeff Wirth, the visionary founder and Executive Director of the Interactive Performance Lab. Through a variety of interactive techniques involving audience participation, this show will provide a unique glimpse into both the power of laughter and the power of interactive performance.
Tue, October 27, 2009
In this show, we’ll be discussing the media’s role on self-esteem in both men and women. Psychological research shows that media images have detrimental effects on women and girls. As we know, the media is full of unrealistic portrayals of “beauty” and many people find themselves longing to attain this standard, only to find that it is completely impossible. In this show we discuss how media images, especially images from “reality TV” are impacting the beliefs and perceptions of adolescents and society. And we will also discuss how self-esteem and self-worth can and should be based upon something other than some unobtainable standard of beauty.
Tue, October 20, 2009
A number of websites (such as myedu.com and koofers.com) are springing up that provide a variety of new services to students such as publicizing a professor’s grade distribution data so as to increase the likelihood of a higher GPA. But both professors and students disagree about whether such sites do more harm than good. In this show, Karen Holst, vice president of marketing and business development of myedu.com (formerly pick-a-prof.com), discusses how such services help students. Also joining Karen will be Jason Nichol, President of the Student Government Association at Central Michigan University (CMU). The SGA at CMU has pushed the university to make such reports available to students. Nick and Mike, students and members of the EthicsTalk crew, discuss the risks versus rewards regarding grade transparency in this show in addition to how technology is changing higher education, for better and for worse.
Tue, October 13, 2009
In this week's show, we will be discussing the merit of compromise in politics, philosophy, and life in general. But what is compromise? The answer, as it turns out, is somewhat complicated and relative, and we'll spend a good deal of time trying to define it. In many contexts, it's easy for an individual to take an absolute stand - precluding any middle ground. Whether it be a political platform, moral value, or some other bedrock intuition, we'll be weighing the worth of "absolutes" against the importance of progress, consensus, tolerance and keeping an open mind. This show is about why tolerance, compromise and having an "open system"of beliefs is absolutely essential for flourishing and well-being.
Tue, October 06, 2009
This past weekend, the EthicsTalk crew attended and presented at a conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The experience was incredible and transformational. The conference, entitled, Educating for Personal & Social Responsibility, was sponsored by the Association of American Colleges & Universities where hundreds of university faculty, administrators and students shared ideas about the university’s role in cultivating character and promoting moral development. We discuss our presentation and how and why preparing and presenting at this conference transformed our ideas and relationship with each other. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s views on creativity, expressed in Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention, will ground our discussion and we will discuss how Csikszentmihalyi’s views on creativity are applicable to both the creation of the Self and the ecology by which the Self is nurtured. Csikszentmihalyi makes the point that removing oneself from the usual surroundings in which one practices the daily rituals responsible for creativity, and placing oneself in a different environment, infuses and strengthens creativity. We discuss how this point is no less true for the Self and the community by which one is nurtured.
Tue, September 29, 2009
In this show, we discuss the theory of learning style or “multiple intelligences.” Among the questions that we will explore are: Is there such a thing as a “learning style”? How many learning styles are there? How do you know which learning style you have, and how can you accommodate yourself when you are forced to learn against your own style? What is the current research saying about learning styles? What are some schools/learning environments doing to accommodate various learning styles?
Tue, September 22, 2009
This show continues the unfinished and fascinating discussion that we had with Dr. Thomas Farrell on the philosophy of Walter Ong (Check our archives, the show aired on 9/11/09). Ok, so this picture is not of Ong, but of PETRUS RAMUS. Don’t know who he is and why he matters? Listen. But here it a hint -- he was a philosopher/logician who transformed the way that logic is taught. Ramus was the subject of Ong’s masterpiece, Ramus, Method and The Decay of Dialogue. This is a hard book, but Dr. Thomas Farrell, a renowned Ong scholar who has read the book multiple times, will help us to understand some of its key lessons. In this show, we focus on Ong’s claim about how Ramus took Western Culture from a visual culture to a ‘hypervisual’ one -- thereby affecting the nature of communication and of knowledge itself. It gets better, because communication, in turn, shapes and molds consciousness or, as Dr. Farrell puts it, ‘the sensorium’. What does this have to do with ethics you might ask? A lot. Listen to one of the leading scholars on Walter Ong engage in stimulating discussion about how different modes of communication contribute to the flourishing of the individual and the species.
Tue, September 15, 2009
In this show, we discuss the issue of academic integrity and why it matters. Why bother with studying for a class that one will “never use”? We will explain why and we will also discuss, why, in our view, cheating happens. After all, Aristotle claims that “all men by nature desire to know.” If that is true, why do “paper mills” exist? Why do students cheat? Hint: we think it has something to do with a flawed and dangerous conception of ‘success’ that looms large in the consciousness of students. In addition to discussing these issues, we will also discuss the impact of the internet on education, including the growth of such sites as myedu.com and koofers.com which allow students access to professors’ grade distribution reports. Some fear that this will motivate students to shop for ‘easy’ classes, while others claim that this helps students to avoid notoriously ‘unfair teachers’. Join us for a stimulating discussion about something that matters to all of us and to future generations: education.
Tue, September 08, 2009
In this show, we discuss the fascinating and profound ideas of Walter Ong, S.J. with Dr. Thomas J. Farrell, a renowned Ong scholar. Author of numerous articles on Ong as well as the critically acclaimed, Walter Ong’s Contributions to Cultural Studies: The Phenomenology of the Word and I-Thou Communication, Dr. Farrell will discuss Ong's philosophy about the relationship amongst the spoken word (primary orality), the written word (literacy) and technology (secondary orality). We will introduce the listener to some of the ideas of Ong, and will demonstrate their poignancy and relevancy as the internet evolves into Web 3.0 -- and arguably into a new (tertiary) form of orality and the spoken word.
Tue, September 01, 2009
Solitude can be a very frightening thing to some people. Many people feel lost or lonely when they are left without companionship, even if it’s only for a brief period of time. In tonight’s show we’ll be discussing some of the possible reasons for this fear as well as ways one can find enjoyment out of their solitude. There are several things people can do to make their alone time meaningful to them; the key is finding out what those things are for the individual. In this show, we discuss not only discuss ways to make solitude more meaningful, but also argue that solitude is essential for a truly meaningful life.
Wed, August 26, 2009
In this show, we build upon the conversation of last week’s show that addressed the promises and perils of the marriage between higher education and technology. In several of Plato’s dialogues the claim is made that a “dependent” or “conditional” good is a good that that can be harmful if not used with knowledge. Plato also claims that virtue is knowing how to use a conditional good in a beneficial, rather than harmful way. Digital virtue is therefore the use of technology in a way that promotes rather than hinders human flourishing. We discuss some of the ways that the use of technology and the internet can be harmful. Including in this discussion is a discussion about the some of the legal dimensions of social media, including a discussion of both trolling and of section 230 the Communications Decency Act, which concerns defamation. The objective of this show is to increase awareness and mindfulness about one’s own use of technology, and to provide concrete tips to help the listener develop practices that promote his or her own digital virtue.
Wed, August 19, 2009
Join us for a conversation with journalist and author Anya Kamenetz, author of “Generation Debt: Why Now Is the Worst Time To Be Young” (Riverhead, 2006) and the forthcoming book “Hacking Education” (Chelsea Green, 2010). In this show, Ms. Kamenetz discusses her most recent article for Fast Company, entitled “How Web-Savvy Edupunks Are Transforming American Higher Education.” We will discuss how technology and the internet are shaping higher education, both for the better and for the worse.
Wed, August 12, 2009
In this show, recent bar exam takers Anderson Duff, John DiGiacomo, and Hope May, all graduates of Michigan State University College of Law, discuss their recent experience taking the Bar Exam. Anderson took the NY bar, and John and Hope took the Michigan bar. Virtually every state’s bar exam is an academic marathon -- a two day long exam. In Michigan, the first “event” is a five hour day devoted to essays (Michigan’s exam has 15); whereas in NY the first event is a 6.5 hour long exam that includes 5 essays and 50 NY specific multiple choice questions. In both MI and NY, the second day or “event” is devoted to the “Multistate” or MBE exam -- a 6 hour long 200 question multiple choice exam. Each day contains two sessions and one 90 minute break. Accordingly, we divide the bar exam into four “performance quadrants” that correspond to the 4 different “performance segments” this two day long marathon, and we discuss the psychological and physiological peaks and troughs that one can expect before, during and after these segments. Our objective is enable the listener to be mindful of these peaks and troughs so that he/she knows what to expect and how to maximize his/her performance taking the exam. The show will incorporate recent research on ultradian rhythms and the basic rest-activity cycle (BRAC) that is a staple of performance psychology.
Wed, August 05, 2009
In these dire economic times, especially here in Michigan, it can be hard to remain optimistic about this state’s future. Today, we will be discussing Michigan’s Defining Moment (MDM) a group made up of a wide spectrum of Michigan Citizens. This group is building a network of Michigan communities to work together to come up with a common ground agenda in order to provide a vision to guide the actions of Michigan citizens, community leaders, and legislators. MDM is premised on the idea that by articulating and encouraging common goals, the state will come together to overcome hard times and thrive. In this show we will give a more in-depth analysis of the on-goings of MDM, dive into the importance and hardships of community organizing, and will discuss how communities can affect change.
Wed, July 29, 2009
This week we will be discussing a non-profit organization called the White House Project (WHP). Founded by Marie Wilson, the WHP’s goal is to educate women on how to become involved in the political world. Each year, the White House Project holds training conferences around the country which teach women the “ins and outs” of politics. They cover issues like how to start your campaign, how to finance, how to present your platform and how to carry yourself throughout the campaign. Emily Hagen, one of our student hosts on ethicstalk, attended one of these conferences and met some really remarkable women. In today’s show, we will be discussing why women may or may not choose to run for office as well as the obstacles that stand in their way. We will be discussing whether these obstacles are unique to women, or if campaigning men may face the same problems. Joining us as a special guest will be Shannon Garrett, Great Lakes Regional Director for the WHP.
Wed, July 22, 2009
In this show, we will be discussing relationships during the college years. We as human beings are social animals. We need a sense of connection and meaning with other people. Romantic relationships can be complex and wonderful. They take time and effort. Can relationships be beneficial during these hectic college years? What makes a good relationship? Should one “search out” true love during college? And how much sacrifice should we make during this time of our lives? We will be taking callers who take both sides of the issue: some support college love and some opt out of the dating scene. We will also be discussing the phenomenon of “serial dating” (aka jumping from one “true love relationship” to another).
Wed, July 15, 2009
In last week’s show, we discussed studying for the Bar exam: one of the milestones in becoming an attorney. The responses to that show indicated that our listeners wanted more, so we continue the discussion this week. Once again, three recent law school graduates: Nathan Backus, John DiGiacomo, and Hope May will discuss their experience studying for the Michigan bar exam as well as their experience with "Barbri" -- the national bar review course. We will also be joined by a special guest, Daniel Barnhizer, Professor of Law at Michigan State University College of Law and a graduate of Harvard Law School. Professor Barnhizer will discuss his experience studying for the bar exam and how he did it while working full time. In addition to discussing the bar exam, we will also discuss study strategies for developing and sustaining motivation under extremely stressful and daunting circumstances. The objectives of this show are two: 1) to educate and inform our listeners about the bar exam and what it is like to study for this exam and to be a student of Barbri, and 2) to provide advice, based on research on goal attainment and human performance, that should help those attempting to undertake an intimidating goal such as studying for the bar exam.
Wed, July 08, 2009
In this show, three recent law school graduates who will take the Michigan Bar Exam at the end of July will discuss their experience studying for this exam. All three guests are enrolled in the national standard bar review course known as “BarBri,” and have been studying since mid-May. Joining in the discussion are Nathan Backus, graduate of Wayne State Law School, John DiGiacomo, graduate of Michigan State University College of Law, and Hope May, also a graduate of MSU College of Law. Nathan, John and Hope will share the highs and lows in studying for the bar. In addition, Hope, a tenured professor of philosophy (she earned a law degree while teaching full time), will discuss some contemporary research relevant to learning and studying such a huge amount of material. This show should be of interest not only to those interested or currently pursuing law school, but also for those studying for professional exams and those interested in strategies for developing and sustaining motivation under extremely stressful and daunting circumstances.
Wed, July 01, 2009
In this show, we will interview Lindsey Merkel, one of the founding members of the Mount Pleasant “Free Store” and the Mount Pleasant Free School (MPFS). The MPFS provides a forum in which people can come together to share ideas, skills, and knowledge, the Mount Pleasant Free School holds lectures and discussions, provides hands-on workshops, and offers alternative avenues for learning. We will discuss mission of the free school and the emerging “free” movement throughout the country in the form not only of free “brick-and-mortar” schools such as the MPFS, but also of free online lectures and courses from sites like academicearth and MIT OpenCourseware.
Wed, June 24, 2009
In this show, we are going to be joined by Deanna Heath, the Executive Director of Woodland Hospice in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Deanna will discuss the nature of hospice care, how her role has hospice director contributes to the meaning within her life, and what brought her into the field. On a broader level, and to connect to previous shows, we will discuss how to find meaning in one’s illness. Is this possible? How is it done? How do hospice workers strive to accomplish this goal (if at all)?
Wed, June 17, 2009
Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" is one the classic books about survival. Frankl, who died in 1997, was a survivor of Nazi Concentration camps. When he was liberated from the camps, he had lost everything, including his parents and his young wife. Yet, Frankl, who had been exposed to powerfully practical philosophical ideas in his youth, was able to endure such tragic circumstances with a powerful message for humanity. In this show, we discuss the wisdom of Frankl's message and the importance of it for all human beings, no matter what their age and circumstance. We focus on the afterword of Frankl's book entitled "The Case for a Tragic Optimism" and will be joined by a special guest, Paul Buscarello, who read Frankl's book as a high school student.
Fri, June 12, 2009
Ethics Talk welcomes Dr. Jeffrey Wigand, subject of the academy award nominated film “The Insider”. Dr. Wigand will share his inner journey with us and will discuss the series of “aha moments” that ultimately compelled him to take action and break ranks with the tobacco industry.
Wed, June 10, 2009
This show continues our discussion from last week about the practical value of the humanities. In addition to humanities needing to justify its worth because of the recession, some critics charge that the traditional university needs to justify its worth because its functions have been largely supplanted by the internet and the sea of information that one has at one’s fingertips. This week, we take up that charge. Are there things that go on within the traditional university -- and by humanities and philosophy classes that cannot be supplanted by the internet? To answer this question, we will discuss the intersection of humanities, identity and technology. We will discuss how the humanities and philosophy play an important role in the construction of one’s identity and self and in one’s “search for meaning” -- a fundamental need that, if not satisfied, leads to the Quarterlife Crisis (see our show on that aired on 5/13). The internet and social media have raised deep questions about whether MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc., harm/hinder one’s search for meaning and the creation of one’s self. We discuss.
Wed, June 03, 2009
This focuses on the personal and professional value of philosophy and the humanities. Michael Strong, author of "Be the Solution" and "The Habit of Thought" and co-founder of FLOW -- an innovative non-profit aimed at promoting entreprenurial solutions to the world's problems, talks about the importance of philosophy and meaninfgul education. In Michigan, which has been especially hard hit by the recession (with GM’s bankruptcy dealing another blow), humanities and philosophy majors are few and far between. According to the Humanities Indicators Prototype, “The humanities’ share of college degrees is less than half of what it was during the heyday in the mid- to late ’60s”. And during hard economic times, when money and marketable skills are on the minds of individuals seeking higher education, the value of the humanities and of philosophy is not obvious. In this show, we discuss why philosophy and the humanities are extremely practical, not only for one’s personal life, but for one’s professional life as well.
Wed, May 27, 2009
Having recently participated in a life coaching workshop, we focus this week's show on the coaching movement. A life coach is a certified instructor who works with clients to help motivate them in reaching some goal or overcoming some obstacle. There are several different approaches to life coaching, but they all aim at teaching the client basic life skills such as goal setting and attainment, confidence, and self-esteem. These services are becoming more and more popular, especially in the corporate world. The fees for these services range from $20 a session up to $10,000 for professional certification. In our show today, we will discuss whether life coaches are necessary or whether individuals can and should develop their own "navigational and motivational resources." Later in the show, we will be discussing the approaches one may use to acquire these skills for herself. Can an individual be successful in life without the aid of a life coach? And what are the resources available for such an endeavor?
Wed, May 20, 2009
In this show, we will be discussing the reasons why we do what we do when making educational, professional, and life decisions. What sort of motivation is behind our goals and ends, and how does higher education mold the content of our goals? We are concerned because much of the motivation and message behind modern university education is career oriented. This ultimately seems to be producing a generation of citizens focused on monetary or status-oriented ends. The message is that one ought to know what kind of “career” he/she wants rather than what it is that is driving them or what they are able to contribute. The question that ought to be asked is— how ought educated, enlightened beings define “success” and what kinds of ends are best for us as students to be most successful? We will be addressing these questions first in relation to education and secondly with longer-term goals and how one knows what her ends are and why.
Wed, May 13, 2009
In this show, we discuss the “quarterlife crisis.” The quarterlife crisis is an identity crisis that is said to afflict twentysomethings -- especially college graduates. Many college grad who emerge from the “structured cocoon” of education suffer angst and malaise about their life. Lack of fulfillment, lack of direction and lack of focus are common symptoms of the QL crisis. In this show, we discuss the quarterlife crisis and provide concrete suggestions on how to avoid it.
Wed, May 06, 2009
In this show, we discuss the philosophical dimensions of luck and chance and the role that chance plays in happiness and human flourishing. For the past few weeks, our team has been discussing a modern approach to human flourishing in which self-concordance figures prominently. While we have been focusing on the inner resources necessary for self-concordance, in this show we discuss the external factors or "ecology" that contributes to flourishing, spefically, luck, chance and fortuity. What does Aristotle have to say about luck and chance? How does personal responsibility pertain to flourishing? Does research in contemporary neuroscience undermine the notion of "free will" and responsibility? Join two philosophers, authors, and old friends, Hope May (Central Michigan University) and Mike Russo (University of Maryland) as they discuss these issues.
Wed, April 29, 2009
This show continues our discussion from 4/22/09 that focused on the contemporary relevance of Aristotle's view of flourishing, which is the subject of a forthcoming book by Dr. Hope May entitled “Aristotle’s Ethics: Moral Development and Human Nature” (Continuum, 2009). In that earlier show, we began discussing how Aristotle views flourishing as a specific type of goal oriented activity, and, specifically, a goal oriented activity that one is intrinsically motivated to pursue. We connected this insight to the concept of self-concordance, a concept that one finds in self-determination theory (a theory of motivation). According to May’s reading of Aristotle, an individual is able to flourish and achieve eudaimonia only if certain developmental preconditions are in place. Self-concordance is no different and only comes about if a number of developmental preconditions are in place. Our earlier broadcast focused on one of these important preconditions, namely, being able to answer the question "how do you want to be remembered?" Answering this question allows you to identify the fundamental values and interests to which you are intrinsically motivated to pursue. But this is just one, among many, preconditions that need to be in place for flourishing. In this episode, we discuss some of the *other* preconditions necessary for self-concordance, including the development of habits and rituals that lead to masterful motivation and self-regulation.
Wed, April 22, 2009
This show will focus on the contemporary relevance of Aristotle's theory of flourishing. We will focus on the concept of self-concordance, a notion found within self determination theory. Self concordance is a highly specific goal oriented activity that aligns with an individual's fundamental values and interests. We discuss self-concordance, how it is developed and cultivated, and its deep connection to Aristotle's theory of flourishing and happiness. We discuss these ideas with Hope May, professor of philosophy and author of an upcoming book (Aristotle's Ethics: Moral Development and Human Nature, [Continuum, 2009]), in which these ideas are discussed.
Wed, April 08, 2009
In our show this week, we will continue the discussion of motivation in education by discussing further some of the different ways in which education is moving. We will examine specific things that broaden understanding, for example through interactive experiences like service learning and also other methods, including alternative education and homeschooling. We will explore these creative and nurturing approaches at every level beginning with preschool all the way through college.
Thu, April 02, 2009
When she was a high school student, Lindsay Hyde was already honing on skills as a social entrepreneur (thanks to a philosophy class she had!). Realizing the need for programs that nurture and cultivate the self-esteem of girls, in 2000 (her freshman year at Harvard), Lindsay founded “Strong Women, Strong Girls,” an innovative after school program. In addition to supporting the development of young girls, Strong Women, Strong Girls also emphasizes the leadership and growth of the college women who volunteer as mentors. Join us for a discussion with Lindsay as she discusses her vision for her organization and on her experience as a social entrepreneur.
Wed, March 25, 2009
Michigan Representative Rebekah Warren (D. 53rd) joins us for a discussion about Michigan Election Law and how it affects College Students. Representative Warren has introduced legislation seeking to overturn Rogers's Law, which imposes burdens on student voters.
Wed, March 18, 2009
In this week’s show we focus on the concept of happiness and human flourishing with an emphasis on the Buddhist perspective. What does it mean to happy? What does it take for a human being to flourish? What does the Buddhist tradition tell us about happiness? What is spiritual enlightenment? What is the significance of the practice mindfulness meditation? What does empirical research say to support this “science of the mind” type approach that Buddhism employs? How does the Buddhist approach to happiness relate to the new field of positive psychology? Is there a connection between Buddhist ideas and Aristotle’s idea of eudaimonia? We will discuss questions like these this week with a special guest, Dr. Guy Newland, an internationally recognized scholar of Tibetan Buddhism.
Wed, March 04, 2009
In this show we focus on the concept of private speech and its relationship to the “executive function.” Private speech is a form of communication in which the individual uses language to speak to him or herself for the purpose of comfort, guidance, and/or direction. Private speech is linked to the development of the executive function, which is a cognitive ability responsible for goal setting and realization. We will discuss the importance of private speech and executive function in adulthood and the role that it plays in the good and flourishing life.
Thu, February 26, 2009
In our show today, we’re going to be discussing the issue of inspiration and motivation in education. We're going to explore what's going right and what's going wrong. What is our role as students? How are we empowered? What should teachers be doing, and what are good teachers doing? We will address these questions using constructive criticism, personal experience, and working solutions.
Thu, February 19, 2009
In this show, we'll be discussing the impacts of depression for college students. Amanda Benarroch, a psychology major at University of Minnesota, will be sharing her knowledge on the issue.
Thu, February 12, 2009
This week on Ethics talk we will have two first year law students, on the air. They will be explaining their trials and tribulations of transitioning from undergrads to full-time law students. If you are considering law school this will serve as an informational dialogue that you can engage in!
Tue, February 03, 2009
Today "students for integrity" will be discussing procrastination and the role it takes in academic integrity. There will also be information on ways to combat procrastination. Our major source of material for the show comes from Dr. Timothy A. Pychyl of Carlton University. We encourage callers to share their questions and/or struggles with procrastination.
Fri, January 23, 2009
In this show, we explore some of the ideas found within Tal Ben-Shahar's doctoral thesis (Harvard, 2004). Ben-Shahar, internationally acclaimed author of "Happier" and master teacher, argues that there are two components of self-esteem: dependent self-esteem and independent self esteem. Students working with the Center for Professional at Personal Ethics at Central Michigan University discuss these concepts and their relevance to academic integrity.
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