The Ethics of History: Slavery, Genocide, and Moral Judgment

This course explores how we engage ethically with troubling chapters in the past, including slavery and genocide. Can we hold historical figures morally accountable by today's standards? Should nations apologize or make reparations for historical injustices? How do we remember - or forget - atrocities? Students will grapple with moral dilemmas about collective guilt, justice, and responsibility. We will read philosophical arguments alongside historical texts, encouraging students to develop reasoned positions on how to engage the past.