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Forum Network

Free online lectures: Explore a world of ideas

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GBH Forum Network

The Forum Network is a public media service of the GBH Educational Foundation that offers thousands of video lectures by the world's foremost scholars, authors, artists, scientists, policymakers, and community leaders, made available to the public for free.

Lectures hosted on The Forum Network are presented by community organizations and educational institutions from the Boston area and beyond.

From science to the humanities, from local to global topics, The Forum Network is committed to providing outstanding educational content for lifelong learners, and to encouraging deeper understanding and civic engagement around the vital issues of our time.

Explore lectures by Topics, Series, Partners, and Speakers. To provide viewers with more information, lectures are further augmented with speaker biographies, related lectures and books, captions and transcripts, and downloadable audio.

In the past, GBH has collaborated with other public media partners—WETA in Washington, DC; Public Broadcasting Atlanta; and WNET New York—to record public speaking events. While the structure of the Forum Network changed in 2014 to focus specifically on the Boston region, previously recorded lectures remain archived in this website.

Major support for the GBH Forum Network comes from the Lowell Institute, an organization created to carry out the 1836 bequest of John Lowell Jr., to make free public lectures available to the citizens of Boston

Stay in touch with Forum Network. » Facebook Find us on Facebook and Twitter. Become a partner by joining our network as a local community content contributor. Email forumnetwork@wgbh.org with the subject line "New Partner".

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About GBH Educational Foundation

GBH enriches people's lives through programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain, fostering citizenship and culture, the joy of learning, and the power of diverse perspectives. GBH serves New England, the nation, and the world with programs that inform, inspire, and entertain. GBH is PBS's single largest producer of content for television (prime-time and children's programs) and the Web. Some of your favorite series and websites -- Nova, Masterpiece, Frontline, Antiques Roadshow, Curious George, Arthur, and The Victory Garden, to name a few -- are produced here in our Boston studios. GBH also is a major supplier of programs heard nationally on public radio, including The World. And we're a pioneer in educational multimedia and in media access technologies for people with hearing or vision loss. Our community ties run deep. We're a local public broadcaster serving southern New England, with 11 public television services and three public radio services -- and productions (from Greater Boston to Jazz with Eric in the Evening) that reflect the issues and cultural riches of our region. We're a member station of PBS and an affiliate of both NPR and PRI. In today's fast-changing media landscape, we're making sure you can find our content when and where you choose -- on TV, radio, the Web, podcasts, vodcasts, streaming audio and video, iPhone applications, groundbreaking teaching tools, and more. Our reach and impact keep growing. GBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors -- Emmys, Peabodys, duPont-Columbia Awards -- even two Academy Awards. In 2002, a special institutional Peabody Award cited GBH's 50 years of service to the "community, the nation, and the world with outstanding productions and collaborations."

GBH is devoted to bringing you new experiences, taking you to new worlds, and giving you the very best in educational content. We're here for you -- and it all happens thanks to your interest and generous support!

https://forum-network.org/

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    Putting a Price Tag on Life / How to Measure Pleasure

    Sun, Sep 20, 2009
    Lecture Three: "Putting a Price Tag on Life" Jeremy Bentham's late 18th century Utilitarian theory -- summed up as "the greatest good for the greatest number" -- is often used today under the name of "cost-benefit analysis." Sandel presents some contemporary examples where corporations used this theory -- which required assigning a dollar value on human lives -- to make important business decisions. This leads to a discussion about the objections to Utilitarianism: is it fair to give more weight to the values of a majority, even when the values of the majority may be ignoble or inhumane? Lecture Four: "How to Measure Pleasure" Sandel introduces J.S. Mill, another Utilitarian philosopher, who argues that all human experience can be quantifiable, and that some kinds of pleasures are more desirable and more valuable than others. Mill argues that if society values the higher pleasures, and values justice, then society as a whole will be better off in the long run. Sandel tests this theory by showing the class three video clips -- from *The Simpsons*, the reality show *Fear Factor* and Shakespeare's *Hamlet* -- then asks students to debate which of the three experiences qualifies as the "highest" pleasure.
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  • This Land is My Land / Consenting Adults

    Sun, Oct 4, 2009
    Lecture Seven: "This Land is My Land" John Locke is both a supporter and detractor from the theory of Libertarianism. Locke argues that in the "state of nature," before any political structure has been established, every human has certain natural rights to life, liberty -- and property. However, once we agree to enter into society, we are consenting to being governed by a system of laws. And so, Locke argues, even though government is charged with looking after one's individual rights, it is the majority that defines those rights. Lecture Eight: "Consenting Adults" John Locke on the issue of taxation and consent. How does John Locke square away the conflict between 1) his belief that individuals have an unalienable right to life, liberty, and property and 2) that government -- through majority rule -- can tax individuals without their consent? Doesn't that amount to taking an individual's property without his/her consent? Locke's answer to that is that we are giving our "implied consent" to taxation laws, by living in society, therefore taxation is legitimate. And, as long as government doesn't target a particular group for taxation -- if it isn't arbitrary -- then taxation isn't a violation of the fundamental rights of individuals.
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  • Mind Your Motive / The Supreme Principle of Morality

    Sun, Oct 18, 2009
    Lecture Eleven: "Mind Your Motive" Professor Sandel introduces Immanuel Kant -- one of the most challenging and difficult thinkers in his course. Kant believes we, as individuals, are sacred and the bearer of rights, but not because we own ourselves. Rather, it is our capacity to reason and choose freely that makes us unique, that sets us apart from mere animals. And when we act out of duty (doing something because it is right) only then do our actions have moral worth. Sandel uses the example of a shopkeeper who passes up the chance to shortchange a customer only because he worries it would hurt his business. That wouldn't be considered a moral action, according to Kant, because he wasn't doing the right thing ... for the right reason. Lecture Twelve: "The Supreme Principle of Morality" Immanuel Kant says that in so far as our actions have moral worth, what confers moral worth is precisely our capacity to rise above self-interest and inclination and to act out of duty. Sandel tells the true story of a 13-year-old boy who won a spelling bee contest, but then admitted to the judges that he had, in fact, misspelled the final word. Using this story and others, Sandel explains Kant's test for determining whether an action is morally right: when making a decision, imagine if the moral principle behind your actions became a universal law that everyone had to live by. Would that principle, as a universal law, benefit everyone?
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    What’s a Fair Start? / What Do We Deserve?

    Sun, Nov 1, 2009
    Lecture Fifteen: "What's a Fair Start?" John Rawls applied his "veil of ignorance" theory to social and economic equality issues, as well as fair governance. He asks, if every citizen had to weigh in on the issue of redistributive taxation -- without knowing whether they would end up as one of the poor or one of the wealthy members of society -- wouldn't most of us prefer to eliminate our financial risks and agree to an equal distribution of wealth? Lecture Sixteen: "What Do We Deserve?" Professor Sandel recaps the three different theories raised so far, concerning how income, wealth, and opportunities in life should be distributed. He summarizes libertarianism, the meritocratic system, and the egalitarian theory. This leads to a discussion of the fairness of pay differentials in today's society. Sandel compares the salary of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor ($200,000) with the salary of Judge Judy ($25 million). Sandel asks, is this fair? And if not, why not? Sandel explains how John Rawls believes that personal "success" is more often a function of arbitrary issues for which we can claim no credit: luck, genetic good fortune, positive family circumstances. But what of effort -- the individual who strives harder and longer to succeed -- how should his/her "effort" be valued?
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    Arguing Affirmative Action / What’s the Purpose?

    Sun, Nov 8, 2009
    Lecture Seventeen: "Arguing Affirmative Action" Students discuss the issue of affirmative action and college admissions. Is it "just" for schools to consider race and ethnicity as a factor in admissions? Does it violate individual rights? Or is it as equal, and as arbitrary, as favoring a star athlete? Is the argument in favor of promoting diversity a valid one? How does it size up against the argument that a student's efforts and achievements should carry more weight? Lecture Eighteen: "What's the Purpose?" Sandel introduces Aristotle's theory of justice, which, simply put, is giving people what they are due, what they deserve. Aristotle argues that when considering issues of distribution, one must consider the goal, the end, the purpose of what is being distributed. For him, it's a matter of fitting a person's virtues with their appropriate roles.
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    Hired Guns? / For Sale: Motherhood

    Sun, Oct 11, 2009
    Lecture Nine: "Hired Guns?" During the Civil War, men were conscripted to fight in the war -- but draftees were allowed to pay hired substitutes to fight in their place. Professor Sandel asks students -- was this policy an example of free-market exchange? Or was it a form of coercion, because the lower class surely had more of a financial incentive to serve? This leads to a classroom debate about the contemporary questions surrounding war and conscription. Is today's voluntary army really voluntary, given that many recruits come from a disproportionately lower economic background? What role does patriotism play? And what are the obligations of citizenship? Is there a civic duty to serve one's country? Lecture Ten: "For Sale: Motherhood" Professor Sandel applies the issue of free-market exchange to a contemporary and controversial new area: reproductive rights. Sandel describes bizarre presents examples of the modern-day "business" of sperm and egg donation. Sandel then takes the debate a step further, using the famous legal case of "Baby M", which raised the question of "who owns a baby"? Mary Beth Whitehead signed a contract with a New Jersey couple in the mid-eighties, agreeing to be their surrogate mother, in exchange for a large fee. But 24 hours after giving birth, Whitehead decided she wanted to keep the child and the case went to court. Students discuss the morality of selling human life, the legal issues surrounding consent and contracts, and the power of maternal rights.
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  • A Lesson in Lying / A Deal Is A Deal

    Sun, Oct 25, 2009
    Lecture Thirteen: "A Lesson in Lying" Immanuel Kant's stringent theory of morality allows for no exceptions; he believed that telling a lie, even a white lie, is a violation of one's own dignity. His theory is put to the test with a hypothetical case. If your friend was hiding inside your home, and a killer knocked on your door asking where he was, what could you say to him -- without lying -- that would also save the life of your friend? This leads to a discussion of "misleading truths" -- and the example of how President Clinton used precise language to deny having sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky, without outright lying to the public. Lecture Fourteen: "A Deal Is A Deal" Sandel introduces the modern philosopher John Rawls and his theory of a "hypothetical contract." Rawls argues that the only way to achieve the most just and fair principles of governance is if all legislators came to the bargaining table in a position of equality. Imagine if they were all behind a "veil of ignorance" -- if their individual identities were temporarily unknown to them (their race, class, personal interests) and they had to agree on a set of laws together. Then and only then, Rawls argues, could a governing body agree upon truly fair principles of justice.
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  • Private Rights and Public Broadcasting: Panel 1

    Wed, Mar 26, 2008
    Robert Lippincott, Senior Vice President of Education for PBS, Steve Altman, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and Jay Fialkov, Deputy General Counsel for WGBH, talk about issues for the digital age from the perspective of Public Broadcasting. For many years, Congress has recognized the important educational mission and the limited resources of public broadcasters, and the Copyright Act of 1976 included several specific provisions designed for their benefit. The business culture that developed around rights and distribution grew out of a broadcast-based system for public television and radio. Today, in the evolving digital environment, PBS, NPR, the stations, and other producers and distributors of public television and radio programming are working to embrace new production and distribution models beyond traditional broadcast. They must now aim to act more broadly as 'public service media' in order to further their mission and meet the changing needs of our audience. At the same time, public broadcasters are running up against a legal and business environment that has not kept pace with digital transformations. The provisions in copyright law that were intended to benefit public broadcasting have limited application to new technology and media formats; business systems that were formulated in the pre-digital era can create confusion, slow down or prevent new kinds of distribution, and have enormous cost implications. These issues challenge public broadcasters in our efforts to produce and distribute both new content and older archived materials for the public benefit. This conference brings together public broadcasting leaders with representatives of copyright organizations, talent unions, music rights holders, archives, and other key stakeholders for two days of discussions on balancing private rights and public interests in the ever-changing landscape of digital convergence. Its goals are to survey existing copyright laws and business practices; to educate its participants about the issues that affect public broadcasters' work in a multi-platform world; to hear and understand more fully the perspectives of union and rights holders; and to look for 'next steps' that public broadcasting, unions, and rights holders can take together.
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  • NOVA: Doctors' Diaries

    Tue, Mar 31, 2009
    The producers of NOVA's long-running documentary series Doctors' Diaries join medical doctors for a screening and a discussion of the series' latest installment. Over the past 21 years, NOVA has followed a group of seven doctors from their first day at Harvard Medical School in 1987. All young, bright, and accomplished, none of them could have predicted what it would take, personally and professionally, to become a member of the medical tribe. NOVA's cameras have been there through the difficult years of classes and clinical training, internship and residency, marriage and divorce, and documenting the trials and tribulations as these individuals have struggled to become doctors and balance time at work and at home. Candid, in-depth interviews give viewers a real sense of what each person has had to deal with day in and day out since they made the decision to practice medicine. In this special two-part program, NOVA returns one last time to get an update on the kind of doctors, and people, they have become.
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  • Time, Talent, Treasure, and Tradition in a Tight Economy

    Sat, Mar 14, 2009
    Meizhu Lui, director of Closing the Racial Wealth Gap Initiative at the Insight Center for Community Economic Development, talks to the Women's Economic Forum at Simmons College about her new book, The Color of Wealth. This lecture is sponsored by Our Public Spirit (OPS), a project of the Boston Women’s Fund in collaboration with Haymarket People’s Fund and the Women’s Theological Center (WTC). OPS recognizes and honors the giving traditions of women of color, while promoting social justice philanthropy within communities of color. Through OPS, Boston Women’s Fund works to continue diversifying the base of donors who fund social and economic justice efforts.
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