Original version

BBC Four

BBC 4

Justice

Michael Sandel

Mick Conefrey

Julian Mercer

Justice: Episode 8: The Good Life

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Crime & Justice

Episode 8

Episode 8: The Good Life

The Good Life

BBC Four - Justice, The Good Life

Is it necessary to reason about the good life in order to decide what rights people have?

Lecture using controversies over same-sex marriage and abortion to examine whether it is necessary to reason about the good life in order to decide what rights people have.

In the final episode of Harvard professor Michael Sandel's famous series of lectures on the philosophy of justice, he raises two questions. Is it necessary to reason about the good life in order to decide what rights people have and what is just? And 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. 

Sandel concludes the series by making the point that, in many cases, the law can't 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.

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

Michael Sandel gives a series of lectures from his Harvard course in Political Philosophy

Professor Michael Sandel presents a series of lectures from his Harvard undergraduate course in Political Philosophy

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Justice

Episode 8: The Good Life

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Four

About BBC Four