Harvard Professor Michael Sandel Engages Students
Last night our International Emerging Leaders Conference delegates had the opportunity to experience the interactive style of Harvard professor Dr. Michael Sandel as they considered complex issues involving ethics, economics and the environment.
More than 15,000 Harvard University students have taken Dr. Sandel's class, called "Justice," and many readers worldwide have read his book "Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?" As the keynote speaker at our Emerging Leaders Conference event at the Virginia Historical Society, he was the perfect highlight of a week spent learning about ethical and innovative approaches to global challenges.
After introductions by Head of School Keith Evans and Leslie Strickler of Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc., Dr. Sandel took the stage and captured the attention of the audience as he posed questions about thought-provoking hypothetical moral dilemmas. Conference students were seated up front, and Dr. Sandel asked their opinions about issues related to black rhino hunting in Africa, refugees in need of home countries, littering and the mitigation of global emissions. Each issue had a monetary component -- is it ok to pay another country to reduce their emissions to a greater extent so that your country doesn't have to reduce as much? Is it ok to pay another country to take on more refugees so that your country won't have to? As he described the scenarios, many of the students raised their hands to offer opinions, and Dr. Sandel called on them to debate the two sides of the issues. While the rest of the audience were spectators, they were just as engaged as the participants as Dr. Sandel masterfully directed the discussions.
Many thanks to Dr. Sandel for inspiring such an insightful dialogue and giving our conference students from 10 different countries an opportunity to share their views. If the noise level in the lobby after the presentation was any indication, his visit will be provoking conversation for days to come.
Dr. Sandel's new book, What Money Can't Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets, was published last spring. Learn more about his class and watch an episode here.
Learn more about the International Emerging Leaders Conference here and visit the conference blog.
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After introductions by Head of School Keith Evans and Leslie Strickler of Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc., Dr. Sandel took the stage and captured the attention of the audience as he posed questions about thought-provoking hypothetical moral dilemmas. Conference students were seated up front, and Dr. Sandel asked their opinions about issues related to black rhino hunting in Africa, refugees in need of home countries, littering and the mitigation of global emissions. Each issue had a monetary component -- is it ok to pay another country to reduce their emissions to a greater extent so that your country doesn't have to reduce as much? Is it ok to pay another country to take on more refugees so that your country won't have to? As he described the scenarios, many of the students raised their hands to offer opinions, and Dr. Sandel called on them to debate the two sides of the issues. While the rest of the audience were spectators, they were just as engaged as the participants as Dr. Sandel masterfully directed the discussions.
Many thanks to Dr. Sandel for inspiring such an insightful dialogue and giving our conference students from 10 different countries an opportunity to share their views. If the noise level in the lobby after the presentation was any indication, his visit will be provoking conversation for days to come.
Dr. Sandel's new book, What Money Can't Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets, was published last spring. Learn more about his class and watch an episode here.
Learn more about the International Emerging Leaders Conference here and visit the conference blog.
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