The Moral of the Story: Exploring Ethics through Literature and Film

Ethics is the study of how we ought to live and the people we ought to be. For millennia, theologians and philosophers have constructed arguments that inform our understanding of morality, but for much longer people have told stories that address perennial questions in ethics. What is human dignity? How should we balance respect for the individual with society's needs? Is the pursuit of perfection noble or dangerous? In this seminar we will explore foundational themes in ethics as they are raised in classic English literature, contemporary novels, and films. Readings will include Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Isaac Asimov's I, Robot, and Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper. Films may include Gattaca, Talk to Her, and Dirty Pretty Things.