Ethics and Society in Paris

Professor Andy Lamey teaches PHIL 28 in a way unique to any other class I have ever taken. The course goals of PHIL 28 include teaching students ethics and fairness with regards to social structures and political institutions. He incorporates “reacting to the past” which is a program in which students “reenact” historical events through a role-playing game. Each student is assigned a character from a historical period, and must act in ways that their character would have back then. They must demonstrate their characters views on certain topics by giving speeches and voting on certain measures, etc. 

Our program in particular focused on the French Revolution and the early processes of establishing a constitution. Having this global seminar in Paris provided a fully immersive experience, as we were able to visit various sites throughout the trip that were a part of the “game.” I, personally, believe that I developed a better understanding and a greater interest in the course as a result. Students had to write “Newspaper Articles” on issues based on their character’s beliefs, which do not necessarily align with the student’s personal beliefs. Doing this allows students to develop a sense of empathy and understanding of the situations that occurred in history. This method of teaching made the course significantly more interesting and I felt more engaged than in a traditional lecture setting. This course was by far the most interesting course I have taken, and the fact that I was able to take it in Paris provided a fully immersive experience unlike any other.