Calendar of Events

Free and Open to the Public

Location: Furman Hall (Google map of this location)

"Can War Be Justified?" A lecture by Larry May, W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy and professor of law

Larry May’s talk will offer an introduction to a range of questions on the morality of war. He will address such questions as:

Is the killing of soldiers is justified by claims that they forfeit their rights by joining the military?
Are soldiers justified in doing things that would not be acceptable if they were civilians?

Professor May's lecture is one of three 2013 Berry Lectures in Public Philosophy at Vanderbilt University, which explore thought-provoking questions about the morality of war, treatment of others and obligations toward the dead. The theme for this year’s series is “Life, Death and Justice.”

Other lectures in the series include:

“Is Solitary Confinement a Living Death Penalty?” with Lisa Guenther, associate professor of philosophy, on March 18. Professor Guenther leads a reading and discussion group at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution with students and inmates. She will talk about whether solitary confinement is ever a justified punishment – given research showing its debilitating psychological effects on individuals.
“Can the Dead Be Harmed?” with W. James Booth, professor of political science and philosophy, on March 25. Professor Booth will consider whether society has obligations to those who are no longer living – whether they are fallen soldiers or others who have made their wishes known prior to death.