Justice with Michael Sandel — Season 1, Episode 5: Hired Guns?/For Sale: Motherhood

Episode synopsis

During the Civil War, men drafted into war had the option of hiring substitutes to fight in their place. Professor Sandel asks students whether they consider this policy just. Many do not, arguing that it is unfair to allow the affluent to avoid serving and risking their lives by paying less privileged citizens to fight in their place. This leads to a classroom debate about war and conscription. Is todays voluntary army open to the same objection? Should military service be allocated by the labor market or by conscription? What role should patriotism play, and what are the obligations of citizenship? Is there a civic duty to serve ones country? And are utilitarians and libertarians able to account for this duty?

About Justice with Michael Sandel

Justice is the first Harvard course to be made freely available online and on public television. In this 12-part series, college professor Michael Sandel challenges us with hard moral dilemmas and invites us to ponder the right thing to do-in politics and in our everyday lives.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1The Moral Side of Murder/The Case for Cannibalism
• E2Putting a Price Tag on Life/How to Measure Pleasure
• E3Free to Choose/Who Owns Me?
• E4The Land is My Land/Consenting Adults
• E6Mind Your Motive/The Supreme Principle of Morality
• E7A Lesson In Lying/A Deal Is A Deal
• E8What's A Fair Start?/What Do We Deserve?
• E9Arguing Affirmative Action/What's The Purpose?
• E10The Good Citizen/ Freedom Vs. Fit
• E11The Claims Of Community/Where Our Loyaty Lies
• E12Debating Same-Sex Marriage/The Good Life