The Island of Dr. Moreau
How do two films, one produced in 1996 the other in 1932, based upon the H.G. Welles novel explore the ethical challenges posed by genetic engineering? What sort of commentary does it provide concerning the slide into morally dubious actions that can be b
Special Edition 2nd and 3rd Amendment
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 C
Unforgiven
What does this 1992 Clint Eastwood film tell us about mythologizing of cruel figures in the so called ‘Wild West’? How does the character “English Bob” reflect the sanitizing fictions that were circulated in the press and popular culture in the late 19th
Federalism, State’s Rights, and the Role of the 14th
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, a
Judicial Procedure
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 a
Criminal Self Incrimination
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, w
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
What does this 2017 Film about the origins of the HELA cell line used in biomedical research, and the family of ‘donor’ Henrietta Lacks, show us about the ramifying effects of the loss of Henrietta on her children and extended family? Would it have been m
Search, Seizure, and Admissibility
We look at the 4th Amendment. What does the right to privacy mean, and what rights do we have as American citizens to protection from an unreasonable search and seizure? What is the difference between “reasonable” and “unreasonable?” What rights do govern
Freedom of Religion
We examine Freedom of Religion, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. This Episode is in two parts – created by Madison and his peers: the Establishment Clause, and the Exercise Clause. We ask: what factors led the United States to e
Source Code
What does this 2011 Science Fiction film, premised on the technological possibility of reliving the last few minutes of a person’s life by soul-jumping into their bodies in parallel universes, tell us about ethical issues that would arise in using such te