Can Morally Wrong Be Politically Right?

Course Description

"Morally Wrong Can't Be Politically Right!" is a common bumper sticker reflecting strong political sentiments. How should we think about this assertion? The purpose of this seminar is to explore and discuss the difficulty of engaging and reconciling different worldviews in a pluralistic society. How do we determine right and wrong? How should these determinations legally obligate others? By what criteria do we acknowledge the political right of another to do what we believe is morally wrong? Special attention will be paid to how these questions play in the political process and how public policy is crafted and debated.