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Ethics and politics: a commitment to discussion

Is it possible to debate moral issues in democratic societies in order to arrive at the most reasonable and just solution, or is applying the law of the majority the only way to obtain a solution, regardless of the reasons that justify one position or the other?

In the framework of the subject "Ethics and politics: moral debates in democratic societies", students from the different Degrees of the School of Philosophy and Letters have reflected on these questions and have analysed real cases of moral debates in our society around issues such as euthanasia; permanent revisable prison and life imprisonment; and the limits of freedom of expression.
 

Victoria Chavero, a third year student of Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) shared her impressions with us: "It has been a real challenge to think with the grown-ups about what has happened to liberalism. The classes have culminated in a more political reality and a discussion where we have been able to show where we are in liberalism".

The subject was led by the Full Professor of Philosophy Politics and Morals, José María Torralba, and professor at School. The subject was divided into two parts: theoretical and internship. In the first, they examined the main concepts and theories that shape public space. They were introduced to the thought of authors such as Berlin, Mill, Rawls, MacIntyre, Habermas or Ratzinger, as well as analyzing texts by some contemporary thinkers in our country such as Gregorio Peces-Barba, Manuel Arias Maldonado, Manuel Toscano or Diego Garrocho.

In the second part, the students were divided into groups to examine ethical debates such as the legalisation of euthanasia, the permanent revisable prison or whether there should be limits to freedom of expression.

Torralba told us that it was possible to understand, in theory and internship, what are the assumptions of a healthy public dialogue and what should be done to improve the current one. We must not forget, moreover, the humanistic training of all those students who participated in the subject, since, as the Full Professor valued, "they can make particularly valuable contributions because they have the perspective and distance that is often lacking in day-to-day politics".
 

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