Google Classroom

Going forward, all assignments will be posted in Google Classroom. However, any handouts posted there will also be available here, usually in the column to the right.

Assignment for Thursday, Feb 7

View Michael Sandel's lecture "The Moral Side of Murder" from his Justice course at Harvard. (It's a little less than an hour long.) The title of the lecture is a bit deceptive; be prepared to think about justice as the greatest good for the greatest number, which is the basis of a kind of philosophical thinking called utilitarianism. As the course guide puts it: "According to the principle of utility, we should always do whatever will produce the greatest amount of happiness and whatever is necessary to prevent the greatest amount of unhappiness. But is that right? Should you always try to maximize happiness? Should you always do whatever is necessary to minimize unhappiness?" Be prepared to answer these questions in class.

Assignment for Tuesday, Feb. 5

For Tuesday, read this article from The New Yorker. In addition to its content, pay attention to the article's structure. In a Google Doc, make an outline of the article, indicating its different parts or sections (don't make it too detailed). In your outline, highlight or put an asterisk next to the section that you think the author wants the reader to most remember. Explain the reasoning for your choice in one or two sentences at the end of your outline. Of course, you may work on this during Friday's class if you finish and turn in the required research writing early. Submit this assignment in Google Classroom if you have access to it; if not, share it with me via email.