Justice--A Harvard Course

My brain is being challenged as I sit in a class at Harvard everyday at my computer.  The class is "Justice" by Michael Sandel and there are 12 lectures, each with two parts.  I am on Lecture 7.

The books the students have had to read I know nothing about.  Many of the words are totally unfamiliar to me.  But I love the way the teacher teaches.  He talks about what certain philosophers have written and then challenges the students to give their opinions.  I am totally impressed with their ability to express themselves.  I could not have done that at 18.  I could not have thought so deeply as they do.  Of course, they are at Harvard!!

He is a master at getting them to participate and never lets the discussion get out of hand.  I love the way the teacher interjects real life stories for purposes of illustration and analyzing.  He obviously has collected this material over the years and knows just when to introduce it.  For the most part he speaks off the cuff, occasionally referring to his notes.  He illustrates certain points (after they have discussed them) on an overhead projector.  He is a master teacher and never hesitates with an uh, or extra words but speaks deliberately and in a manner easy to understand and follow.  He always repeats what the students have said in a clear, concise way, asks them their name and repeats it, and makes every contribution appear to be meaningful.  He never dictates what is truth but has them challenge and debate the information and leads them to certain conclusions.  They hang on his every word and take copious notes on paper and computer.  The room is a huge auditorium, three stories high, completely filled!  You could hear a pin drop.  It is better than sitcoms!!!

I am looking forward to watching other classes from other universities.  The site is academicearth.org--a feature of Public Television funded by private sources.  As they roll the credits to those private contributers I always wish that was something I was able to do--donate huge amounts of money for something important.