UC Berkeley Graduate Council Lectures (Video)

Times of Change: Possibility Virtue and a Democratic Politics of Time


Listen Later

Political theorist Annabel Brett of Cambridge University explores how the concept of “moral possibility” shapes law, politics, and public obligation. She explains that laws must be realistic for people to follow—what is morally possible varies by individual, culture, time, and circumstance. Drawing on early modern Catholic legal theory, Brett discusses how extreme demands (like enduring war or plague) may justify higher expectations, but only temporarily. She examines how colonial Spanish officials misused this framework to justify forced labor in Peru, wrongly claiming it aligned with indigenous customs. Brett contrasts this with more democratic approaches to law, like Domingo de Soto’s defense of beggars’ rights, which take individuals’ real conditions seriously. Ultimately, she shows how moral possibility is deeply tied to time, virtue, and justice. Commentary is provided by David Dyzenhaus of the University of Toronto. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 40430]
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

UC Berkeley Graduate Council Lectures (Video)By UCTV

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

1 ratings


More shows like UC Berkeley Graduate Council Lectures (Video)

View all
Religion and Spirituality (Audio) by UCTV

Religion and Spirituality (Audio)

3 Listeners

Climate Change (Audio) by UCTV

Climate Change (Audio)

15 Listeners

University of California Audio Podcasts (Audio) by UCTV

University of California Audio Podcasts (Audio)

11 Listeners

University of California Video Podcasts (Video) by UCTV

University of California Video Podcasts (Video)

7 Listeners

UC Berkeley (Audio) by UCTV

UC Berkeley (Audio)

4 Listeners

Robert Reich by UCTV

Robert Reich

34 Listeners

CARTA - Anthropogeny (Audio) by UCTV

CARTA - Anthropogeny (Audio)

7 Listeners

The Career Channel (Audio) by UCTV

The Career Channel (Audio)

4 Listeners

Public Policy and Society (Audio) by UCTV

Public Policy and Society (Audio)

1 Listeners

Holocaust (Audio) by UCTV

Holocaust (Audio)

48 Listeners