Hughes, Scarlato on “The Ethics of Battlestar Galactica”

HARTFORD ETHICS GROUP

Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 7pm

James J. Hughes Ph.D.
Public Policy Studies, Trinity College
Exec. Dir., Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

and

Ben Scarlato
Intern, Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

will speak on

“The Ethics of Battlestar Galactica”

Venue: Walton Room, 2nd floor of the Trinity College Library
Directions: http://library.trincoll.edu/about/hours.cfm

Abstract:

Battlestar Galactica is a critically acclaimed show on the SciFi channel about humans and robots battling across space, now in its fourth and final season. Despite the fantastic setting, the show has grappled with many profound ethical issues. Ben Scarlato and J. Hughes will describe some of those issues, including the handling of human mortality, the personhood and rights of sentient non-humans, the torture of prisoners, the legitimacy of terrorism in a liberation struggle, the legitimacy of sacrificing the few for the many, and how existential threats trump individual rights. Even if you aren’t familiar with the show it should be a fun chat, and all are welcome.

Links:

Watch episodes here

“Immortality and Death in Battlestar Galactica”  

“A Disquiet Follows My Soul: Personhood, Humanity, and Diversity”

“The Oath”

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The Hartford Ethics Group is a monthly discussion group on bioethics themes coordinated by James Hughes and Miller Brown of Trinity College.
For more information, or to submit a topic, please contact James Hughes
at: james.hughes at trincoll.edu