This week:

Is a Murderer Necessarily of Bad Moral Character?
Repouille, naturalization, and ‘moral turpitude’

Moderated by Larry Rosen. Co-sponsored by Castine Arts Association.

Deciding between good and evil is easy: Deciding between one moral good and another moral good is not. Should an American Indian tribe, whose members are also US citizens, be able to favor men over women to preserve its traditions and independence? May those starving on a life raft eat one of their number to survive? Should a doctor be forced to let a patient die whose religion forbids a life-saving blood transfusion? May a foreigner who euthanized his incurably malformed, pain-ridden child be denied American citizenship because he is guilty of “moral turpitude”? Collectively, we will discuss the issues involved; individually, each of us must decide what is right.

Rosen is the Cromwell Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Princeton University and Adjunct Professor of Law Emeritus at Columbia University. A member of the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court and named to the first group of MacArthur Award recipients he has taught family law at various universities and is the author most recently of Legitimacy in Crisis and The Rights of Groups. Last year he offered this discussion topic through the Acadia Senior College at Mount Desert. He is now a full-time resident of Castine.

In person + Zoom. No background in law is necessary to participate.

Space is limited. Registration required.  kathryn@witherlelibrary.net or call 326-4375.