Ethics and the Naval Warrior

This podcast introduces the main reasons that counted in favor of the thorough revision of NE203 and summarizes the most important changes made to that course.

Every Midshipman at the Naval Academy takes a course in ethics during their Youngster (Sophomore) year. The course, "Ethics and Moral Reasoning for the Naval Leader", serves as one of the building blocks for Leadership, Character, Ethics and Law, and is a requirement to graduate and be commissioned in the naval service. The course has undergone a major change this year. In this series, we'll be discussing the changes with some of the Professors who led the conversation and building of this new course.

This podcast introduces the main reasons that counted in favor of the thorough revision of NE203 and summarizes the most important changes made to that course.

The conduct of war is subject to both moral and legal rules – for example, rules about who is a legitimate target, and who is not. What is the relationship between those moral and legal rules? Should we change the law of war so that its content mirrors the true morality of war? David Lefkowitz is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Richmond. He is the author of a book – Philosophy and International Law: A Critical Introduction - as well as numerous articles and book chapters on topics including the moral conduct of war, secession, and civil disobedience. During the 2016-2017 academic year, he served as a Fellow at the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership.

The conduct of war is subject to both moral and legal rules – for example, rules about who is a legitimate target, and who is not. What is the relationship between those moral and legal rules? Should we change the law of war so that its content mirrors the true morality of war? David Lefkowitz is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Richmond. He is the author of a book – Philosophy and International Law: A Critical Introduction - as well as numerous articles and book chapters on topics including the moral conduct of war, secession, and civil disobedience. During the 2016-2017 academic year, he served as a Fellow at the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership.

What does resilience and response mean in federal service, both civilian and the naval service. Why is it so important on the world stage for the USA to demonstrate its ability to respond to disasters in an effective manner? Is there a great power struggle to provide that aid? What should a young naval officer be thinking about today with regard to disaster support in the near future? Ms. Caitlin Durkovich is the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director of Resilience and Response at the White House National Security Council. As the Senior Director, she is responsible for the advancement of policies and programs that enhances the resilience of the United States, and strengthens the U.S. posture to physical and cyber threats to the nation’s critical infrastructure.

What are your rights as they are shaped by the 2nd and the 3rd Amendment? What are the colonial Origins and Interpretations of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms? What were Intentions of the Founders, and how and when were they changed? How has the Supreme Court interpreted this right today? Is there a connection between the original intent, and the rights and rulings today?

How did the Founders handle Federalism and State's Rights - that perpetually delicate balance? How does the 14th Amendment address these issues? Our constitution and our way of life remain a great experiment – it is our responsibility as naval officers, and as Americans to understand exactly what the Constitution guarantees to all citizens, and to prove that we truly are all created equal.

How did the Founders handle Federalism and State's Rights - that perpetually delicate balance? How does the 14th Amendment address these issues? Our constitution and our way of life remain a great experiment – it is our responsibility as naval officers, and as Americans to understand exactly what the Constitution guarantees to all citizens, and to prove that we truly are all created equal.

What does judicial procedure look like as an accused citizen? What does the right to a speedy trial mean? Are there any limitations to your right to counsel? What is bail, and what is to be considered excessive? Do you know the difference between a jury and a grand jury? Lastly, how are we to understand what “cruel and unusual” really means?

What is the process of being taken into police custody? What happens to you, either as a citizen or a military member once you have been arrested? Everyone has heard of Miranda Rights – do you know where it comes from? What are 31 Bravo Rights? Finally, what is meant by Due Process?