On the evening of December 12, 2013, Prof. Michael Sandel, the world-renowned political philosopher who had been invited to attend the 36th Bowen Forum, delivered a “CUPL Open Course” for our teachers and students on campus. Prof. Sandel is a Fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the universal icon of contemporary Western Communitarianism Theory and a well-liked general course lecturer for the undergraduates at Harvard University, which is a highly recommended course in Harvard’s program of general educational curriculum called "Justice". His lecture provided reflections and uncertainties on the topic of “Technology and Humanity”.
The event marked the first use of a live simulcast between Xueyuan Lu Campus in Haidian District and Xuefu Lu Campus in Changping District. It featured simultaneous interpretation as well as the peer-to-peer (P2P) technology.
CUPL Vice-President Feng Shiyong met with Prof. Michael Sandel.
Michael Sandel worked up the interaction and debate among the student audience by asking the question “Suppose the technology permits, can you accept the idea that parents can choose their child’s gender at will by using genetic technology?” Students had an opportunity to demonstrate their standpoints by raising the yellow and red cards in their hands. After that, the lecturer asked the opinions of both sides randomly and separately.
Prof. Michael Sandel directed the proponents and opponents to debate each other periodically throughout the lecture. In addition, he guided students to think more thoroughly by putting forward the question “Which one is more desirable in the sense of value judgment? Is it the convergent desire for ‘perfection’ or is it the diversified interest in ‘uniqueness’”? Under the influence of his skillful guidance, the atmosphere immediately became animated and lively.
Michael Sandel was very satisfied with the students’ ideas and debates. He summarized that “we often forget the fact that technology is merely a kind of tool, but the discussion of the genetic engineering always prompts us to try to re-define the relationship between technology and humanity. Only by forming the value judgment of our own can we put technology to proper usage. Since all individuals have different conceptions of justice and virtue, we shall discuss with and listen to each other. We respect different voices which mean we respecting different individualities and their thoughts respectively. The “uniqueness” is the true desire in the sense of value judgment.”
The forum concluded with hearty rounds of applause from the audience.
