Noted Philosopher Rick Kaufman Opens 2009 Hale Ethics Series at RIT

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Rick Kaufman, inaugural Hale Ethics speaker, discusses philosophical topics with his students at Ithaca College.

Rick Kaufman, professor of philosophy at Ithaca College and a leading scholar in the ethics and morality of war, will open the 2009 Hale Ethics Series at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 in Rochester Institute of Technology’s Carlson Auditorium.

Kaufman will discuss the use of morality to justify war and the impact this can have on overall societal morals. He will also present numerous examples of morality’s use in war propaganda such as Woodrow Wilson’s “War to End All Wars” campaign during World War I.

“Can war ever be morally justified or is war necessarily immoral? If we are ever justified in resorting to war, are there morally acceptable and morally unacceptable ways to fight or does anything go?” Kaufman asks. “Can we rationally ground the answers to these important questions? In this talk I hope to engage the audience in critical reflection on these and other matters pertaining to moral issues surrounding war and violence in society.”

WHAT: “Morality and War”

WHO: Rick Kaufman, professor of philosophy at Ithaca College

WHEN: 4 p.m. September 24

WHERE: Carlson Auditorium, Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, RIT