Li Zehou (center) begins his course on ethics in ECNU.

On the morning of May 9, Li Zehou began the first class of his course on ethics on Zhongbei Campus. Because of Li’s popularity among Chinese intellectuals, the class attracted so many audiences that the organizer had to open two halls for audiences to watch the live broadcast of Science Building A508, the main site of the class.

Just like Harvard Professor Michael J. Sandel’s course “Justice”, Li’s course is also given in a discussion-oriented format rather than recitation and memorization of facts. Anyone who had read Sandel’s “Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?” and Li Zehou’s two works on ethics could attend the course.

The course attracts lots of audiences.

There are other two halls for audiences to watch the live broadcast of the class.

Li said he had planned to have a discussion on several major problems with only about 10 people. “Just discussion. I don’t want to reach a final conclusion. It’s not necessary and possible because there are too many difference ideas and questions in ethics. I want to provide some topics for students to think and discuss. I do hope there are many different ideas. Questions or criticisms are also welcome.”

He wanted all the students to participate in the discussion freely without his influence. “I have no advantage on you except I am older than you. All the books I have read are almost forgotten, but I haven’t read the books you have,” said Li humorously.

Students are active in the discussion.

Sandel’s “Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?” was one of the reasons that Li wanted to restate his thoughts on ethics. Before the class, Li said the course would center on his works “ Response to Sandel and Others”. At the class, he asked the students directly, “What are the similarities and differences between Sandel and me?”

He asked the students to discuss several well-known ethic cases adopted in Sandel’s “Justice”. The students discussed the cases actively and vigorously, and some even raised legal provisions and religious doctrines to prove their opinions.

The course centers on Li's works “ Response to Sandel and Others”.

The class was so attractive that many students were unwilling to leave when the class was over. A teacher from Zhejiang University said the course provided a very good chance for students and philosophy lovers to exchange their ideas with prestigious scholars freely.

According to Yu Zhenhua, Director of the Department of Philosophy, this discussion-oriented course can lead students to discuss specific ethic dilemmas and it is very practical and useful. In the following three classes of the course, some heated topics including the Spring Festival travel rush, scalpers and surrogacy will also be discussed in the course.

Li Zehou，born in 1930, is a Chinese scholar of philosophy and intellectual history. He was born in Changsha, China, but currently lives in the United States. He is considered an important modern scholar of Chinese history and culture whose work was central to the period known as the Chinese Enlightenment in the 1980s.

Written by: Liu Jinyu