Human & Social Dimensions of Peace: Planetary Ethics and Education

Visiting Instructor: Dale T. Snauwaert, Ph. D.

The purpose of this intensive seminar is to explore the ethics of war and peace and its implications for the education of democratic citizens. The following questions will be explored: Does the use of force require moral justification, or is political necessity sufficient? Can the use of force ever be morally justified? If yes, what principles justify and govern its use? Are there certain things that never should be done to another human being? Are there things that must be provided to every human being? Is peace a basic right? What is the nature of evil (i.e., why do individuals and states commit crimes of aggression?)? Should citizens of a democracy be educated in order to participate in ethical and political discourse concerning these questions? If yes, what would constitute such an education? These questions are both perennial and timely. Decent societies are faced with global terrorism, the escalation of weapons of mass destruction, and the growing assumption that the use of force is a more viable instrument of conflict resolution than diplomacy. Will future democratic citizens be prepared to engage in thoughtful dialogue about these basic moral issues? Are you? These questions will be explored from the perspectives of the Just War, Pacifist, and Human Rights traditions as well as moral philosophy. Not only will the moral principles that define and guide moral decision making be explored, but the underlying moral resources that make moral choice and action more likely will be examined as well.

(This course is available to registered Teachers College students only. A required course of the Peace Education Concentration in the Program of International Educational Development)

For further information, please visit us on the web at: www.tc.edu/PeaceEd

Or contact us by phone or email: peace-ed at tc.edu / 212.678.8116