March 25, 2009
The evolving global order has liberalized trade in goods, capital, ideas, and, to a lesser extent, people within a multilateral and market-oriented framework. Debates on globalization have focused on the question of whether this order is morally defensible.
The arguments are as diverse as they are forceful. Some decry the order entirely, or claim that at the very least it is much inferior to alternative forms of globalization. Others object that is coercively imposed by powerful, affluent countries—a new and pernicious kind of imperial control. Even apparently voluntary processes, such as learning English or joining the World Trade Organization, are viewed as the result of the use of power of a morally problematic sort. Still others have rushed to defend globalization in its current form, arguing that it is certainly the best that can be feasibly be hoped for, at least for now. These enthusiasts argue that increasing globalization is developing not through the use of power, but through the free choices of people and countries throughout the world.
How is one to make sense of this debate and evaluate these claims? Today on Public Ethics Radio, we discuss globalization with David Grewal of Harvard University.
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March 9, 2009
Here’s something to keep you busy between PER episodes. Christian and I are going to start writing a regular column in the online magazine Policy Innovations. It’ll be called the Public Ethicist–or something like that. We’re still working out the details.
Our pilot article is up there now. We take a look at pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline’s decision to cut some prices in developing countries. Check it out and let us know what you think.
March 9, 2009
That’s right: new episodes coming soon! After a bit of an unplanned hiatus, we’re back at work churning out listening material for you fine listeners.
First on deck, the long-promised David Grewal discussion on network power. That should hit the tubes next week.
Followed, in no particular order, by Jennifer Ruger on public health priorities for the Obama administration, Sanjay Reddy on assessing poverty, and Jedediah Purdy on a topic to be announced. Check back soon for more details.
January 26, 2009
Out of some 1,300 Palestinians killed in Gaza, Israel claims that it can name more than 700 of the dead who were Hamas fighters. Claiming precise knowledge of their targets, Israeli officials insist that their attacks were judiciously planned so as to minimize harm to civilians. Despite this apparent caution, however, any assault on Israel’s enemies makes certain the deaths of innocent civilians.
Today on Public Ethics Radio, we discuss the role that civilian casualties play in assessing the justice of war.
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January 19, 2009
I’m putting the finishing touches on a new episode on proportionality in war. The conversation is with the one and only Jeff McMahan, who graciously let us set this up on very short notice. The episode should be up by Wednesday.
December 18, 2008
What does it mean to live well? The U.S. Census Bureau informs us that an individual American with an income of less than $10,590 lives below the poverty line and is eligible for federal assistance. Add children and the number rises slowly: a father and two young children, say, is poor when their income is less than $16,689.
Certainly these numbers strike us immediately as indicative of low well being. But, as we are informed by Robert Goodin and Lina Eriksson, income figures don’t tell the whole story. Missing from this picture is the degree of control an individual has over how her time is spent.
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November 25, 2008
In his victory speech, President-elect Obama singled out Ann Nixon Cooper. At 106 years old, she has borne witness to tectonic shifts in her society. Few of us would hesitate at a chance to live such a remarkably extended life. We can hardly imagine what our world will be like in forty, sixty, eighty years, but we’re certain it would be worth staying around to see. Today on Public Ethics Radio, we take a close look at that unhesitating certainty. What would a world in which everyone lived beyond 100 be like? Would it really be worth it for us?
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November 8, 2008
The Washington Post published an article on Thursday, which explained that Guantanamo prisoners were only allowed to attend the first full habeas corpus hearing via audio link. And a nonfunctional link at that. Sensing absurdity, I wrote a letter to the editor, which the Post graciously printed.
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October 27, 2008
Are habeas corpus petitions, as Barack Obama put it, “the foundation of Anglo-American law”? Or are they just nuisance lawsuits, “whether it be about the diet, whether it be about the reading material,” that will just slow down the legal system and leave us “bollixed up,” as John McCain claims? On this episode of Public Ethics Radio, we discuss these issues with Larry May.
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