A Dialogue for a New Moral Agenda
organized by
The Institute for Communitarian Policy Studies at George Washington University
*** May 23-24, 2005 *** Washington, DC ***
The event will take place on the campus of The George Washington University over the course of two days. The purpose of the dialogue is to explore what moral language will allow us to best express the values we share, values that resonate with the moral sensibilities of most Americans. Our starting point is that within each of us there is a struggle between our better and our debased selves; thus we ask, what social institutions can make us better than we would be otherwise?
The topics of the conference will include:
- moral suasion versus moral coercion as the basis for a new moral agenda.
- the reform of our moral institutions (such as the family, schools, places of worship, and the community at large) to actively bring out the best elements of our nature while discouraging the worst.
- the power of moral dialogues to increase our awareness of shared values.
- moving beyond the excessive commitment to “making it” and leaving more space for spiritual, social, and personal growth.
- exploring what makes a society fair?
- the scope of our obligations to members of other societies and the budding global community.
With the exception of two keynote addresses, the conference will be structured around a series of dialogues intended to maximize time for discussion. Each session will begin with a brief presentation of the potential elements of a new moral agenda, followed by comments from dialogue starters, and then a discussion among all participants present. Participants in the conference will include religious and spiritual leaders from a wide variety of backgrounds and secular leaders interested in ethics.
Amitai Etzioni, Director of the Institute for Communitarian Policy Studies and author of The Spirit of Community, will present the Institute’s positions. If you have any questions we would be delighted to answer them. We very much hope that you will be able to participate in this important and timely conference.
List of participants: click here
Event schedule: click here
Location and directions: click here
Accommodation suggestions: click here
To RSVP: e-mail egm@gwu.edu
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