The worthiness of procuring a college degree has increasingly fallen into a zone of scrutiny, and not without valid reasons. It might come as a surprise to many parents as to what exactly they are paying such hefty amounts for. Take the case of Manhattan’s New School, an esteemed private institution, where the full tuition of $60,240 doesn’t encompass living costs.
Students at this institution’s Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts have the opportunity to engage in a peculiarly titled course, ‘How to Steal.’ The course title might raise many eyebrows, however, the focus of the course is not to promote petty felonies. It offers a much deeper and profound exploration subject matter.
The course catalogue provides an elaboration on this, stating that the course delves into the realm of understanding the dynamics of theft in a societal construct where amassing wealth is considered the ultimate virtue, dispossession is a common occurrence, and the demarcation between personal ownership and communal benefit is often far from clear.
The course curriculum goes beyond the traditional classroom set up and incorporates field trips as well. These trips are made to ‘locations where capital is hidden and value is disputed,’ such as museums, financial institutions, and even places as ubiquitous as grocery stores.
Interestingly, this learning module seems to resonate aptly with the ethos of its location, New York. In the city, it is considered a minor lawful offense to shoplift items valued under $1,000. Over time, local inhabitants have grown increasingly apathetic towards instances of shoplifting, to the point where it has become a sight all too familiar.
Instances of someone casually walking out of a branch of CVS, loaded with gratis merchandise, have ceased to draw public attention. The course catalogue further underscores the class’s overarching focus on what it refers to as ‘radical ethics.’
The course prompts learners with thought-provoking questions such as ‘Is it feasible to steal back what has already been pilfered?’ Serious conjecture on such questions stimulates introspection of the morality and ethicality underlining our collective societal perspectives.
The course does not intend to sway its participants towards a life of crime or misdemeanor. Rather, it aims at offering an unconventional lens to understand societal norms and values and the contradictions that sometimes accompany them.
Moreover, it raises essential questions about the distribution of wealth, possession, and the fine line balancing the concepts of private property and public welfare. It encourages its participants to look beyond the surface and delve deeper into understanding the complexities of societal structures.
It creates an apt platform to challenge learners’ perspectives on the notion of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ and urges them to rethink these constructs in varying societal contexts. It inculcates a sense of critical thinking and wipes out the aura of presumptuousness from previously held beliefs and notions.
In essence, the emphasis of the course is on the understanding of ethics in a world where ambiguities often cloud the delineation of ownership and where values tend to skew over the canvas of societal structures. Its intentions are purely academic, aiming less at moral judgment, and more on instigating intellectual debates and discussions.
Despite its controversially titled subject matter, the course aims to help students comprehend the disparities in wealth distribution and the legal and ethical issues it often raises. It leaves room for significant introspection on societal norms, ethics, and legal premises.
Though polemical in its existence, its focus on ‘radical ethics’ can potentially lead to a refined sense of judgment concerning the societal norms that govern everyday life routines. Perhaps, it is a lesson not only for students but for society at large, to contemplate the intent and impact of our collective actions.
This course at the Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts, hence, attempts to redefine the way we perceive, interpret, and understand the various layers and perspectives of ethics and societal norms. It is a small yet significant initiative to bring about a change in the conventional thought process and vision concerning possession, ethics, and societal welfare.
The post New College Course Teaches Radical Ethics Through The Lens of Theft appeared first on Real News Now.
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