Justice: What's The Right Thing To Do? Episode 12: "DEBATING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE"

To register for the 2015 course, visit www.edx.org/course/justice-ha....
PART ONE: DEBATING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
If principles of justice depend on the moral or intrinsic worth of the ends that rights serve, how should we deal with the fact that people hold different ideas and conceptions of what is good? Students address this question in a heated debate about same-sex marriage. Should same-sex marriage be legal? Can we settle the matter without discussing the moral permissibility of homosexuality or the purpose of marriage?
PART TWO: THE GOOD LIFE
Professor Sandel raises two questions. Is it necessary to reason about the good life in order to decide what rights people have and what is just? If so, how is it possible to argue about the nature of the good life? Students explore these questions with a discussion about the relation of law and morality, as played out in public controversies over same-sex marriage and abortion. Michael Sandel concludes his lecture series by making the point that, in many cases, the law cant be neutral on hard moral questions. Engaging rather than avoiding the moral convictions of our fellow citizens may be the best way of seeking a just society.

[@lucyalessio9594]

One thing that I absolutely love about this professor is how he remembers and uses the students' names, even from lecture to lecture. It's amazing.

[@terryrozmus]

Not consistently. He asked Nicola's name three times throughout the series.

[@ElectronicCalifornia]

He forgot Patrick, and Dah. He can remember names within one lecture, but forgets half of them by the next lecture. I'm more amazed about how we keeps track with who said what, and he can articulate it better than they can.

[@ulugbekisakov1484]

Because he checks their written assignments over time, probably.

[@IMALISTAAVAILABLE]

What is the point behind asking their names, and calling students by name?

[@TONYTONY-bn7om]

@@IMALISTAAVAILABLE because he's a good teacher

[@hitomi7922]

I can't believe philosophy professors got mad at him for releasing these lectures for free. If every professor was at least as good as Sandel, that wouldn't even be an issue.

[@sadmimikyu8807]

I am so glad this is free on KZbin! They did? Oh lala

[@arikkfir]

@hitomi that's interesting! Can you post some relevant links?

[@fallenquentin]

It’s an honor to have the privilege to watch and listen to them

[@HowardWimshurst]

​​@@hitomi7922 I wonder what moral stance they take to defend their reasoning 😁

[@jey7230]

Who and why did they get mad? This is the whole purpose of philosophy, to share knowledge and challenge each other

[@MeetRayka]

After 13 years, watching this in my room even I couldn't stop myself from clapping to Professor Sandel. The Internet has democratized the quality of education to a great extent. Thank you, Professor, and the team who made these lectures public.

[@architpawar6419]

Same..clapped, laughed, gone into deep thought sitting in room alone in front of my computer screen with pen and paper in hand. Never watched something so seriously my whole life.

[@MeetRayka]

@@architpawar6419 Yes, bro. Keep growing!

[@sauravkumar17]

The whole 24 lectures seemed like a breeze. Respect to Professor Sandel and the students of Harvard for making this class so engaging for all of us watching it from home in America and abroad.

[@manjurani1317]

Share the playlist

[@manjurani1317]

There are 12 lectures right?

[@pragneshkumar2517]

@@manjurani1317 each episode consists 2 lecture

[@ankitmeena6842]

Every lecture present currently contains two classes combined into one lecture. since the comment you are referring to is 9 years old, it's possible harvard earlier uploaded them as two separate videos [hence the 24 lectures]@@manjurani1317

[@ottobenam]

Each video actually has two lectures combined. So 12 videos is 24 lectures. @@manjurani1317

[@YouHeDad]

This course...many tears. More powerful than anything I've ever engaged in, or maybe ever will. I've watched many of these several times over the years, and these debates will always be tattooed in my memory. Thank you so much for uploading. Bravo Michael Sandel

[@mariahslittlelamb8049]

@Stinkin Joe gay

[@backstabbath1979]

I teared up in that end quote myself, what a teacher, what a person.

[@TeamPill]

You should read more then man shit.

[@marybuford9591]

Made me cry 2. It was so incredibly stupid. 😢

[@mandibozo1294]

"Why, we asked at the outset, why do these arguments keep going? Even if they raise questions that are impossible ever finally to resolve. *The reason is that we live some answer to these questions all the time.* In our public life and in our personal lives, philosophy is inescapable, even if it sometimes seems impossible." What a beautiful end to this series. The best you can do is ignore philosophy, but in no way does it ever go away. Every conviction, every deep seated belief, every action is an answer to one of these fundamental questions in some way or the other, whether we acknowledge it or not.

[@melanieflannery5418]

I’m 12 and my mom forced me to listen to one lecture a couple days ago. I’m not admitting this to her but I actually find these lectures really interesting and entertaining 😂😂

[@ritumeena3512]

You have a good mom. You should totally admit this to her. It will at the least increase your probability to more such learning in future. Good luck :)

[@AngelaPanArt]

I wish I listened to these when I was 12!

[@SaixanMobile]

Im 14 and am choosing to watch a lot of these courses as I am preparing my future lmao

[@akiinefaexperiencinglife]

@@AngelaPanArt yes,me too!

[@garfieldbraithwaite8590]

Good for you, keep going

[@DarkFireTaker1]

Thumbs up if you watched all 12 episodes!

[@vidhyalakshmim9605]

And not wanting it to end.

[@coolangelhouse]

DarkFireTaker even looking here and there if some more series around by chance

[@srs1659]

I’m watching them third time. I will never get bored with them.

[@joeljose182]

I am going in reverse order is that okay

[@garfieldbraithwaite8590]

I binge watched this in one day. If I had shown half as much enthusiasm in 1983 when I was studying jurisprudence, who knows where I would be today.

[@IMALISTAAVAILABLE]

Been lying in my bed, and felt the need to actually stand up and applaud this teacher.

[@williamlee1245]

Imagine a country run by a philosopher like Sandel. Oh well, at least we have free lectures!

[@Steve-hu9gw]

William Lee, be very careful what you wish for. Plato thought similarly. Have you ever read _The Republic_ or _The Laws_ ? Let’s just say the result is totalitarianism on steroids.

[@ulugbekisakov1484]

@@Steve-hu9gw what's wrong with that wish? You mean the more intelligent has the potential to manipulate people more adversely, to the point that public will be unaware? I agree that knowing does not suffice. I mean knowing what is just and what is not does not necessarily mean just ruling. But as Socrates said, before being just, a person should know the truth, in our case just/unjust - that is the primary requirement.

[@Steve-hu9gw]

Ulugbek Isakov, no, I’m thinking of something far more basic. As history has shown, “truth,” “just,” and “unjust” are very much in the eyes and experiences of the particular beholder and experiencer. When you restrict the beholders, experiencers, or rulers to a very specific kind of person, you will invariably end up screwing over everyone else. It never fails. That is why democracy, however messy, is the best as yet conceived way. All types, however inconceivable or unacceptable or incorrect to some, get a say. It’s the best safeguard, so far.

[@picklesandcheese25]

@@Steve-hu9gw perhaps as president rather than philosopher king

[@Steve-hu9gw]

picklesandcheese25, I would take that as changing the premise of the original post. A president does not get to singlehandedly run a country-except perhaps in Russia, and you will notice how that is going.

[@aviramvijh]

No one raises the point that marriage a is a legal framework of rights and responsibilities. It is more to ensure fairness to both parties in case of future disharmony, and also to protect the rights of children who might be affected as a result of such disharmony. People can always choose to be together and do whatever they want; marriage is a voluntary contract. If the present laws only allow for such a contract between a man and a woman, another law can be made for facilitating contracts between man and man or woman and woman. Law is supposed to serve to society's needs and continuously needs to evolve. In the year 3000 CE, people might 'marry' (I am pretty sure marriage as an institution would be dead by then) artificially created beings; the law will have to accommodate that too!

[@Eusebeia7]

Aviram Vijh History repeats itself, that has been done before. Jasher 4:18 And their judges and rulers went to the daughters of men and took their wives by force from their husbands according to their choice, and the sons of men in those days took from the cattle of the earth, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and taught the mixture of animals of one species with the other, in order therewith to provoke the Lord; and God saw the whole earth and it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon earth, all men and all animals. Which is also recorded by the Egyptians see the statues of Anubis, Horus etc.

[@aligaines8476]

I've always thought the state or governments took up marriage from the church because it builds up the state, produces future citizens, etc.. I've heard a lot of arguments to those who have issues with legal or illegal immigration, depletion of social security, use of services paid for by citizens, due to lack of children born and not encouraging marriage between male and female. I wish we had more of the history of marriage up till the state than going into rampant vocalizations, harsh statements vs. arguments, reasoning or admitting they have a different view , light or other way of thinking about your previous stance.

[@jaclo3112]

Regulations btwn men/men, women/men, women/women can be exactly the same. No seperate laws required. What is a seperate legislation in most western jurisdictions is child care and child rights. This is seperate from marriage for a very good reason due to marriage being a voluntary contract. If children's care and rights are linked to marriage....then what happens to kids born where no voluntary marriage contract has been entered?

[@raysonraypay5885]

Marriage is a symbol of Christ (bridegroom) and his bride (the church)

[@tomasmagalhaes1]

Im sad this ended.

[@user-di5jb1ee5q]

The final statement of Mike Sandell gave me a deep emotion. I was really moved at his high and deep educational mind and personality. I respect him deeply in my mind, even though I didn't understand all of the 12 lectures, because I am not a native speaker of English.^^

[@aaditya_97]

Not a bar

[@thegoonist]

16:16 well that escalated quickly

[@koreanphilosopher425]

The first episode appeared on my youtube home page yesterday. 48 hours later, I'm here. Just completed watching all the 12 episodes. It's so thought-provoking and inspiring. I realized that Kant's 'Pure Reason' is in a way similar to the 'One Mind' or 'Cosmic Consciousness' in Buddhist teachings. It's in us, but it needs an awakening. Then, all the complexities of moral desert and justice will be resolved naturally. Thanks for the wonderful lecture, Professor Sandel! I'm also very curious to learn what all the students who participated in this lecture are doing now. Peace and Joy to everyone 💜

[@suffragettesoul2687]

It happened to me two days ago - the algorithms brought it to my attention. Here I am 15 min before the end of the last one.

[@ebru4858]

This entire lecture series was amazing thank you youtube for randomly recommending me the first episode

[@rionelbenitez2466]

JUNE 2018. I'M DONE LISTENING WITH ALL THESE 12 EPISODE WHILE ON WORK,.. ALL I CAN SAY IS...THESE ARE WORTHY.

[@akiinefaexperiencinglife]

I have finished all the 12 episodes( in one week) the best recommendation,I have gotten from youtube. I wish the millions of people who started from the first episode had the motivation to finish. I have enjoyed the lectures so much,my reasoning has been elevated.! Michael Sandel is a great professor. I loved the debates,the students also made the lecture more fun and thought provoking. I will definitely rewatch all the episodes now that I know what they are about. Also I am going to listen to every Michael Sandel video on youtube 😊

[@rickbruner]

These kids hit all the right issues and in a thoughtful, reasoned, respectful way. Proud of them. They give a good name to college students vs. the arrogant, student activist loudmouths we often see in the media, too sure of their beliefs. Very rich debate. Nice to see all perspectives represented vs. a bias toward one side or the other. That's how people learn to truly think critically and wisely.

[@futurekillerful]

If your not "to sure" of your belief like you claim then you don't believe your belief.

[@rickbruner]

Mike Watkins There is a big difference between measured belief derived from real life experience and thinking deeply about all sides of an issue vs. blind, fanatical belief that usually coincides with very limited experience and the need for an easy answer to cope with psychological insecurity. The latter exemplifies being "too sure" of one's belief. The former accepts other beliefs as valid and doesn't seek to repress those who disagree. E.g. ISIS vs. Pope Francis.

[@futurekillerful]

Oh so guess I'm sort of in measured k I understand what you mean.

[@futurekillerful]

With gay marriage though there's not many unique perspectives out there. I have not really opened to other perspectives like you suggest however I have looked at some and none have swayed me from viewing same sec marriage as a negative form of relationship.

[@herrero4270]

This is because academic debate is different from political positioning. Just look at the political campaigns toward elections. The candidates usuallly are not thoughtful, reasoned,or repectful, even when having college or university degree. What about the insulting, disrespecful, bigot, Trump. And he has a college degree.

[@qqqqqppppp5]

This was one of the most satisfying courses I've ever watched. Even better than the classes I'm taking currently at my university. I love how it feels like we've come full circle yet we're now equipped with a new understanding of morality, justice and philosophy. At least it's new to me. Thank you Michael Sandel.

[@Ankit123zinking]

Thank you, this has really given me a different perspective of life, which I personally think everyone should try getting. You may not get the answers to all your queries in life but at least you can go through all the possible solutions or view-points. Thank you Prof. Michael Sandel.

[@HoiMackoi]

Yay. Finally completed the series. Thanks Harvard for uploading this amazing content. Loved how Sandel uses different kind of arguments backing them up with great thinkers and ultimately coming up with a cyclical learning.

[@patryxsterv4523]

The whole 12 lectures were beautiful, and have awoken in me new thoughts and ideas , now i see why some issues cause so much trouble and are not that simple, a brilliant lecturer and smart audience

[@akiinefaexperiencinglife]

💯

[@zariads80]

As a random 16-year-old, I've found these lectures to be incredibly profound. I've never encountered an speaker as articulate and clear as Professor Sandel; he has made 24 lectures feel like no more than 20 minutes. I'm so grateful that these lectures were posted on KZbin because each one has left me inspired!

[@rhpmike]

I’ve taken a lot of courses ... never gave a prof a standing ovation!

[@arlavina]

This man should moderate political debates.

[@hawkarmajeed]

Just finished watching all 12 episodes and I feel like I am philosophy and justice. it definitely opened my eyes and helped me to have a better understanding of life. Thanks to Professor Michael Sandel, the students, and KZbin. it's sad to know my journey with these lectures ends here.

[@emoelmo780]

who knew that a random click on the first episode could bring me to the end with a newly found interest in political philosophy as well as made me unsettled with my settled judgements. my journey with these lectures end here. thank you prof michael sandel!

[@kenak1000]

Great work. Thank you for making it available: Sandel, Harvard and KZbin.

[@shivanibiswal3269]

The series ended... and suddenly idk what to do anymore..it's like it gave me this sense of purpose each day..now I think of being at Harvard one day..I really do..

[@MaghoxFr]

You can pick up the books and autores the series mentions and keep studying!

[@brentturno861]

I feel you

[@muhammadmirajmia5559]

As a non native english learner, it took two months to finish all 24 lectures. Respect to Sir Sandeal for your intellectual lectures that have changed my perception.

[@abhinayamarykoshy1264]

Where are the remaining lectures, exactly? Also, as a non native speaker did the accent have something to do with taking 2 months to finish them...?

[@amazingkris]

I am SO SAD that there are only twelve in this series. Thought-provoking, entertaining, well-produced.

[@MuzikizGodd]

This is the best course I've ever taken.

[@sararivz668]

What career did you enter? I’d like to know what paths ppl took since this was 11 years ago :)

[@darrenruben4108]

Ok

[@CuracaoPamelaPaesEzawa]

what an amazing class! Now I'm forever unsettled. That's tiring, but I really believe worth it, like Micahel Sandel said we find some truths on the way, not written on stone one's but the sort os that says a lot about us! A teacher showed me a part of one of this videos and I had to watch it all, so glad I did! Thank you Harvard for sharing it! :D

[@shekharchowdhary]

Skepticism is a resting place for human reason where it can reflect on dogmatic wandering but it is no dwelling place for permanent settlement to allow ourselves simple acquiesce in Skepticism or in complacency can never suffice to overcome the restlessness of reason. Kant words. Aim of this course to awaken the restlessness of reasons and see where it might leads and if we have done that and if the restlessness continues to afflict you in the days and years to come then we together have achieved no small thing. Thank you, Sir, for your lectures. I have prepared full notes of all 24 classes topicwise. 🙏

[@PeaceFinder12]

"Once the familiar turns strange, once we begin to reflect on our circumstance, it is never quite the same again." I think I first experienced this restlessness and uneasiness when I was in college. I was looking for truths and with a friend started discussing if there was any truth whatsoever in religion. I being quite religious at the time and I started actually thinking about god and religion, determinism and free will, I started to question things I took for granted. Doing just that and finding inconsistencies with my past views, I started to feel quite uneasy for days. This uneasiness motivated to understand and revise my past beliefs and find the truth of the matter. Suffice to say after some time I turned agnostic. Once I turned agnostic (mostly atheist) I didn't feel bad anymore. However, I feel unease whenever I hear interesting religious beliefs and the good consequences of such beliefs. But interestingly enough, this uneasiness doesn't quite really motivate to look into religion again much (the stuff I have already dealt with). I wonder if this what Sandel means partly by the uneasiness. I also find it interesting that even at Harvard people will believe in god and I also find it interesting how Sandel talked about the many different experiences that a human being can have. And I quote "John Rawls is also suggesting that there may be persisting disagreements about the good life and about moral and religious questions." Therefore, people might just think differently on certain subjects being supported by equal sound arguments. Sandel then encourages to not ignore people with different beliefs as us but to engage them by sometimes challenging their beliefs and sometimes listening to their beliefs. I used to do that a lot once I was a new converted agnostic but then it lost the novelty of it. Perhaps not because it got repetitive (which it did) but because I tried to respect the wrong other people's belief systems. I just tried to somehow defend my position and I never really did challenge religious people's beliefs which might have been somewhat more interesting for me and for them since they might learn something new. i might have been too focus on defending my beliefs and feeling uneasiness because I am afraid they would disagree and/or also feel the uneasiness which I did not want for some reason for people to feel that uneasiness I first experienced when I started to question religion.

[@Chiungalla79]

Gnostic and agnostic are terms for the level of certainty. Theist and atheists are describing what you believe to be true. So stop dodging the term atheist by using agnostic. You are an agnostic atheist. Nearly all atheists are agnostics. And most theists too. Gnostic level certainty is both rare and dangerous. So if you use the word agnostic you are not saying that much. Atheist might invoke thoughts about gnostic or extreme atheists. But that's mostly because non-extreme atheists most often dodge the question by calling them agnostics.

[@newton7433]

Finally I've completed all the lectures. Sir Michael Sandel is such an amazing professor. Hopefully all the tension that build up with these amazing knowledge would help me develop critical thinking and moral improvement.

[@PaswanSaheb]

Thanks Professor sandel and the entire team for providing such a lovely series for us . Watched all the 12 lectures in this (corona) lockdown. Thank you once again.

[@SanGuo12]

Thank you for such an amazing series. For a person who rarely knows much about philosophy, i had a really good time watching it and thinking about those philosophical concepts. It might seems tough at first to grapple with, but once you put the effort to think it through, it becomes so much easier to comprehend and deeper in meaning!! Thank you Professor Sandel , i will revisit these lectures years later probably!

[@souvikroymoulick586]

Thank you Professor Sandel. And I hope this restlessness of reason continues to afflict me, like it did to other people over a decade, and to generations of other students whom you'll continue to forever inspire.

[@jamesony]

The introduction looked as though it was put together in the 90s.

[@GregTom2]

I found these last few classes a little dry. The rest of the class however has made it fully worth it and I'm proud to have completed my first full harvard class!

[@darrenruben4108]

Awesome

[@BaharehMovahedi]

Started watching the first episode just to simulate sitting in a Harvard class for myself.. and here I am, ended up watching the whole thing and it was absolutely worth it ! Thank you for making this available.

[@7MrHero]

Thank you professor Sandel. Surely, I have achieved more than a small thing throughout 12 hours of your priceless lectures.

[@paweszala9520]

Professor Sandel and Harvard - thank You for that course. It really changed my life. Wonderful and unique in the Internet. I will miss you and I will come back to this course again I hope.

[@IsChrisHere]

This has been a very interesting and educational series to watch for a first-year law student such as myself. I would advise anyone in a similar situation to watch the entire thing as well and I think there should be more emphasis on this subject in Law schools (at least the one I'm in).

[@FrankEnanoza]

Thanks for posting. I am a MBA student and I have found this entire series incredibly refreshing.

[@dmonk5789]

Took me many months to complete the series. But, ultimately did it. Thanks to everyone involved in making this valuable course available online.

[@suikoarke]

Thank you, Harvard, for sharing these video lectures. It was one of the best 12 hours of my educational life spent.

[@nuriucup7761]

Woww, you are way earlier than most of us.

[@samielouariachi1855]

What a great lovely profesor. I love his method. Very kind. Professional. Scholarly educator

[@cindyxie6646]

I am very proud that I finished all 24 lectures! Really worthy my time, I wish I have had such a good professional in my student time.

[@UncleJora]

Complex, intellectual course, to conclude the old "I know, that I don't know". We all a stupid in some parts of life. But last word gives us some hope, that if we try to achieve compromise then we somehow can go further together as a society. Thank you! Outstanding teacher!

[@k-sansenpai7774]

53:10 Raul being finally recognised again at the last episode

[@DhruvVarshney28]

The end was really introspective..!!

[@harisubramanian4165]

Wtf, how come this course thrown for free. This is life man. Great respect for the guy who brought light into our lives. I am speechless. Watching with my smart TV I literally stood up and clapped with Goosebumps along with harverd student. This guy made my year 2022.

[@Guitarista1992]

Thank you very much, Mr. Sandel. This course has truly helped me think about things in a reflective manner. And special thanks for the parting, final insight that emphasizes the importance of reasoning perpetually.

[@ghaidaaelsaddik2712]

this course is a piece of art to contemplate, appreciate and acknowledge in every aspect of life . I feel exhilarated just by watching it, if i only had the privilege of attending live!;). Also one powerful professor that these students are lucky to have.

[@ilregnoregno6697]

I just finished the entire episode today it's really amazing. The professor is a genius.

[@f.l.fargose6446]

Thank you Michael Sandel. God bless you for making these episodes available and that too for free.Enjoyed all the 12 episodes. Inspired by it...learning never ends.

[@EsquireR]

My motivation to follow along went back and forth over this year, but I'm glad i got to the end. Those lectures are so well made

[@andre.queiroz]

A great finale for a great course. Thanks, Harvard!

[@bts_1999_jiminpark]

12 episodes are deep insight & enlightenment ones. Applaud 👏 professor Michelle sandel how he remembers their students names are absolute one.💜

[@mahaaudy]

Begin to watch this series on my first semester and now just finished it on my third semester! Great lectures. I wish I could find another amazing course after this one

[@zoniabernardo4474]

Thank you for these episodes: 1-12 - of which I caught the last 8. Interesting, except for the terminologies that tend to impede clarity of reasoning. Generally, it wasn't difficult for me to embrace and appreciate clearly the arguments of KANT AND ARISTOTLE, with my exposure to how we came to be and for what purpose are we here. I simplify your discussions about our dignity, God's 10 Commandments, our freedom of choice and accountability, and God's purpose for our creation. These knowledge are experienced and tested as I grow in seeing these unfold to manifest themselves. I find your lectures on Philosphy and Justice and the terminologies involved towards a good preparation for dissertation purposes and debate. God bless you for your lectures especially for enlightening minds towards discussions, debate, and morality. 🎉

[@kh.abdulrehman]

I feel like weeping after this course has ended. It was such a beautiful experience and a journey worth it. Also, What all these students might be doing right now?? Thank you...☺😇

[@imh9278]

12 hrs well spent. Thank you prof. Sandel, thank you Harvard.

[@kylaelbaespeleta]

This is the last episode, it's a journey and makes me kinda sad for it to be ending 🤧 Thank You for these Lectures 💚

[@Mohamed-Kurdi]

Thank you Mr.Sandel. You really did awaken some kind of reasoning restlessness and made me more curious about moral and ethical questions. Your lectures are beyond thought provoking, they are also entertaining. Engagement and constant back and forth of ideas are epitome of a socratic dialogue. You performed a debate in the likes of those performed in the agoras in ancient Greek, Thanks.

[@QuoVadisGates]

I appreciate this course and how it’s helped my mental development...

[@19vrats89]

Watched all 12 episodes. Bravo Michael Sandel! Thank you!

[@czanalao8928]

Love watching this. Michael Sanders delivers his presentations well. He remembers his students' names and is very accommodating of each and every one's opinions. I would love to have a professor like him.

[@sadmimikyu8807]

I can't believe it has ended. I am grateful for these videos. Michael Sandel is a treasure!

[@StephenDeagle]

Great series of videos. While I'm already familiar with most of the political and ethical philosophies introduced here, I found Professor Sandel's engagement of the class and the student's thought-provoking responses incredibly satisfying means for rethinking these important and ever-relevant theories.

[@ArunChannelOne]

This is time well spent. Lucky us!

[@punkfans]

Revisited 10 years later, only my third run. Glad to see KZbin and Harvard keep it up. I would argue that if we teach this in high school, the problem/crisis we have now would probably be halved. Some people just won't bother to think for themselves.

[@sgfiudsfk9851]

Does anyone know if there are videos similar to this? These lectures have helped me realize how its imperative that our moral principles should be consistent all throughout.

[@MrBigshifty]

Let's explore the telos of this course. The purpose of episode 1 was to get me to episode 2, and to episode 3,etc..while expanding my knowledge and perceptions of philosophy, justice, and morality. Since these societal perceptions and applications of these views are ever changing this course could never be completed let alone in 12 episodes. Therefore, Harvard is morally responsible to post further episodes indefinitely . I thank you in advance. Kant, Rawls, and Aristotle would be proud

[@applesewer2684]

Best online course I've come across. This is my 2nd time watching through it. Very impressed with everyone involved, the professor and students too. I admire how respectful and unbiased and willing to be proven wrong that everybody seems (barring Hannah! She seemed a bit dogmatic) . I'd be curious to know what some of the students are up to now, 10 years on.

[@NunyaDamnBidnessBud]

Loved these classes. Many thanks to Michael Sandel and the students for teaching me, entertaining me, and giving me a bit of hope for the future of USA.

[@sarahkhalid3287]

Oh wow what a ride! I thoroughly enjoyed each and every lecture. It was thought provoking indeed and in the future, someday I’ll come back and ponder over these questions again

[@ulugbekisakov1484]

If the telos of marriage is reproduction, thus same-sex marriage should not be recognized, then, consequently, contraception should also be illegal between married couples. On the other side, marriage is an artificial social institution, there is no such thing as marriage in nature, and what its purpose is up to people to decide. Yes, I agree marriage, historically/generally, has been assumed, and meant for, reproduction. But hey, as I said it is an artificial institution and its purpose could be subject to changes. Like, for example, take taxation. It, as marriage is, is an artificial institution. And taxation historically was meant to be for the good of the ruling elite. But now its purpose has quietly has changed and now has quite different telos. Therefore, arguments provided against sam-sex marriage on the ground of "reproduction purpose" is invalid per se.

[@samataldazharov9394]

The whole debate is based on the assumption that sex should and has only one purpose, which is reproduction. However, in society, we use our feelings such as fear to enjoy horror movies for example. Why can't we invent purposes for things? Is nature the only authority that can say what's purpose is which?

[@DrivenMind]

+Samat Aldazharov That's literally not the whole debate. That is just what the two Christian students are arguing for.

[@truthofscripture1908]

+Samat Aldazharov Man cannot redefine morality that God has already defined..

[@devilfish1381]

Jon Based on your argument, then a conventional couple who know that they are infertile would fall in the same category as homosexuals since they can no longer attain the telos of reproduction, and should hence not be allowed to marry. Is that a fair conjecture of your argument?

[@Sir_BoazMutatayi]

Samat Aldazharov Yess!!!

[@tomterhorst1077]

@Jon 1. What about old people? (Almost) no women above 50 years of age can procreate, so should new marriages be banned for people older than 50? 2. Why is more reproduction even a good thing considering that the amount of people on our planet is still growing? 3. Are there enough sufficiently cheap resources for all the people on our planet, and will that continue to be the case? 4. Do you know what the is-ought problem is? 5. Should marriage be just like it is (or was in developed countries ten to twenty years ago) because it has always been like it is? 6. Has marriage even always been between a man and women? 7. Why should you decide what the goal of someones marriage is? 8. Doesn't everything that has meaning come down to one thing, which is happiness? 9. What do you think about arranged marriages? 10. Wouldn't the (or better: your) 'telos' become even a more prominent part of marriage if people really have to be able to reproduce to enter a marriage? Quote: "The telos of the engine of a car is to make the car move. If the engine malfunctions it doesn't lose it's telos. It's still for making the car move. It just cannot actualize its telos." Yes, and if it malfunctions and is beyond repair you'll eventually 'throw' it away. Thus, according to that same logic, a marriage of an infertile couple should be declared null and void after some time if they don't succeed in getting at least one child. But, of course, that would not be the right thing to do, because such couples might still have other reasons to stay married.

[@nathalee.a]

I was looking for episode 13, alas 12 is the last :') I've been watching these whole lectures worth a semester from my bedroom in Indonesia. Thank you very much Professor Sander and Harvard for democratizing this high and expensive knowledge. By this generosity 'you have achieved no small thing,' indeed.

[@zhiguangz7824]

Excellent ! I watched all 12 episodes three times. It will benefit my current work. Thanks, Prof. Sandel

[@kissfan7]

And thank you so much to Harvard for posting this for free for those of us who can't exactly afford to afford your tuition. Three cheers.

[@sadmimikyu8807]

Hip hip ...

[@mordecaiben-gurion1199]

Michael Sandel is definitely brilliant. Thank you sir. Job well done.

[@yuhansungscoffee4565]

Thank you for this wonderful lecture series. It really did change the way I think!

[@ioanaturcan5702]

Thank you very much for putting up this lecture Harvard! And thank you to you Michael Sandel!

[@andyx1205]

Great series, I respect Michael Sandel as I do with other modern Philosophers such as Peter Singer (despite their differences in views!). I also believe that there simply is no debate to be made about whether same-sex marriage should be recognized or not, similar to how we have no reason today to debate about whether we should re-invoke segregation. I live in Canada and we recognize same-sex marriage here, country-wide. No one should be discriminated against because of the way they were born.

[@surenderdahiya8131]

so many concepts are clear now to me! thanks Harvard professor.

[@chandramouli3106]

These lectures made me uncertain in many thing in a good way. Thank you professor sandel, harvard and students making it a great experience.

[@samirabakar1873]

I've watched this series of lecture twice and i feel to watch it again. many thanks to Pr. Sandel, Harvard and KZbin from Chad

[@BlackMaven]

Hannah at 16:00 ROCKS !! you are AWESOME!! Sooo smart, confident, and articulate. Fearless. Keep going !!!

[@Truthiness231]

All-in-all this was a fantastic course, though I must have heard the phrases "I believe" and "I think" a thousand times throughout. You'd think Harvard educated students would be smart enough to distinguish beliefs/thoughts (opinion based nothingness) from that of what they know and what they hypothesis (the backbone of the process of logic). Pity they don't have a majority of intellectuals... but what a diverse crowd...

[@mmachuenemaloba5594]

For some common reasons,I also actually thought Havard students were way plausible and rational than the reflection of these lectures. Quite surprising.

[@shenelrogers674]

I would of so loved to have been there for all of his lectures in person he definitely makes you think about things differently.

[@PriyankGoyal]

That gave answers or at least provided questions to many of the moral issues I have been facing. Amazing Lecture Series. Looking forward to reading his books !!!!

[@michz2256]

This was 12 years ago…No one dares to open such subject today ! The professor will be flipping burgers the next day

[@sararivz668]

21:00 that student spoke very well & progressively. I hope they’re doing great things 11 years later. They should do a ‘where are they now’ of the featured students from this series.

[@simonasnicokairys5428]

Truly grateful for the free access on these episodes!

[@Akash-tl6rm]

Hats off in front of you sir!! One of the best teachers I have ever seen☺