Thursday, March 17, 2011

Harvard professor and political philosopher Michael Sandel will present a provocative lecture about the moral and ethical dilemmas embedded in contemporary issues based on his latest book, Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?, at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 21 in UNCW's Kenan Auditorium. The talk, sponsored by the UNCW Leadership Lecture Series, will be followed by a question and answer period and book-signing.

A professor of political philosophy at Harvard for more than thirty years, Sandel's wildly popular course, Justice, packs thousands of students into his lecture hall each year to hear him relate the big questions of political philosophy to the most vexing issues of the day. The course has enrolled over 15,000 students and is the first Harvard course to be made freely available online (www.justiceharvard.org) and on public television. In his latest work, Justice, based on the course, he examines the meaning of justice and a range of topics, from government bailouts to immigration reform, taking readers on a journey of moral and political reflection "to figure out what they think and why."

Michael Sandel is the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government at Harvard. His previous books include Liberalism and the Limits of Justice, Democracy's Discontent: America in Search of a Public Philosophy, and The Case Against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering. His commentaries have appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, The New Republic and The New York Times. He served on the President's Council on Bioethics from 2002 to 2005.

A recipient of the Harvard-Radcliffe Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Prize, Sandel was recognized by the American Political Science Association for a career of excellence in teaching. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Council on Foreign Relations, Sandel is a graduate of Brandeis University and received his doctorate from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

Prior to the lecture, Michael Sandel will host an informal discussion with university students at 5 p.m. in the Randall Library Auditorium. This presentation is free and open to the public.

BOX OFFICE AND TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets to the lecture are $9 for the public and free to UNCW students, faculty and staff. Seating is reserved. For tickets, call Kenan Box Office at 910.962.3500. Box office hours are 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday, or purchase online at www.etix.com.

ABOUT UNCW LEADERSHIP LECTURES SERIES

The Leadership Lecture Series serves as a forum for intellectual inquiry and discussion offering the campus and community opportunities to discuss and explore the political, cultural and economic trends and issues that shape and affect our communities today. By inviting a speaker to the campus, the university does not endorse any particular position. Expect to be enlightened, challenged and inspired. For more information, visit UNCW Presents at www.uncw.edu/presents.