Morally Speaking

Online

via Zoom platform

6 weeks

each meeting is approximately
2 hours, the first on 8th of May

Discussion

sessions are divided into input & discussion

Open Borders:

Hot Topics:

Is Migration a Human Right?

Is My Body Really My Choice? (Abortion & Euthanasia)

Environmental
Ethics:

Affluence &
Poverty:

Is There Anything Wrong with my Trip to Bali?

Should I Donate My Money Instead of Buying a Latte at Starbucks?

How Should We Treat Non-human Animals?

Animal Rights:

Bodily Self-determination:

Open
Borders:

Hot Topics:

Is Migration
a Human Right?

Is My Body Really My Choice? (Abortion
& Euthanasia)

Environmental
Ethics:

Affluence
& Poverty:

Is There Anything Wrong with my Trip to Bali?

Should I Donate My Money Instead of Buying a Latte at Starbucks?

How Should We Treat Non-human Animals?

Animal
Rights:

Bodily Self-determination:

We all want to live a good life. For many of us, that means having enough money and a caring family. And sure, those things are important. But what about morality? Doesn’t living a good life also mean being a good person? Sounds right. The problem is, figuring out what's right and wrong in real life can be pretty tricky!

That's where "Morally Speaking" comes in. This course will tackle all the most relevant questions in contemporary applied ethics: Should we eat animals? What do rich people owe to the poor? How should we treat future generations? Together, we'll explore these moral dilemmas and try to figure out what it really means to live an ethical life.

And here’s the fun part—it’s not just another lecture-style course! In true Socratic fashion, we’ll explore these themes together. You’ll have the chance to share your views, challenge others, and shape the conversation. And don't worry if you've never studied philosophy before. You don’t need Kant, Hegel, or whatever. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to think.

Intrigued? Well, signing up almost feels like a moral imperative :-)

How does it work?

Each week, you'll get 1-2 interesting readings to prepare for our discussions

(Textbook for Reference: Contemporary Debates in Applied Ethics)
We meet online via Zoom for roughly 2-hours (sessions are divided into input & discussion)
Our group stays small (maximum 25 people) so everyone can participate

Remember: This is a space to learn and grow together. Your perspective matters more than your English!

Duration: 5 Content Sessions, 1 Onboarding Session

Teasers

Thursday 8/5, 7 pm CET

00 Meet & Greet + Moral Reasoning Intro

Before we dive into big moral questions, let’s get to know each other—and figure out how to think about ethics in the first place. This session introduces key moral frameworks like Utilitarianism and Kantian ethics (don’t worry, no philosophy degree required). You’ll also get familiar with the course setup, the lecturer’s style, and the tools we’ll use.

Thursday 15/5, 7 pm CET

01 Affluence & Poverty

Every day, we make small choices—grabbing coffee, upgrading our phones, eating out. But what if the money we spend on luxuries could save a life? Do we have a moral obligation to help the poor, or is giving just a matter of personal generosity? This week, we’ll tackle the ethics of wealth and global inequality. Are we truly free to spend our money however we want, or is indifference to poverty itself a moral failing?

Thursday 22/5, 7 pm CET

02 Animal Rights

We love our pets, but we also love burgers. If animals can suffer, does it matter whether they have two legs or four? This session explores the moral status of animals—do they have rights, and if so, what kind? Should we rethink how we eat, dress, and experiment for science, or is human life simply more valuable? Let’s put our moral intuitions to the test.

Thursday 29/5, 7 pm CET

03 Bodily Self-determination

“My body, my choice” sounds simple, but how far does it go? Should we be free to end our own lives? What about terminating a pregnancy? This session dives into the tricky ethical terrain of bodily autonomy, life, and death. Where do individual rights end and societal responsibilities begin?

Thursday 5/6, 7 pm CET

04 Environmental Ethics

Flying across the world for a vacation is fun and exciting—but is it ethical? Our actions today shape the future of the planet, but do we really owe anything to future generations? Should we feel guilty for driving cars, eating steak, or taking long showers? This week, we’ll explore the moral trade-offs of modern life and what it really means to live sustainably.

Thursday 12/6, 7 pm CET

05 Open Borders

If you can order a package from across the world with no barriers, why can't people move just as easily? Are borders a necessary part of national sovereignty, or an arbitrary restriction on human freedom? In this session, we'll debate the ethics of migration, citizenship, and national identity. Should we live in a world without borders, or do states have the right to keep people out?

Meet our teacher

Sven Gerst

Author and Teacher

Sven Gerst is a Philosopher and a Political Economist with an interdisciplinary background in philosophy, politics, and economics. He holds advanced degrees from King’s College London, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and the University of Mannheim and has previously studied and worked at Harvard University, Duke University, St. Petersburg State University, and National Taiwan University

The participation fee
— 90 Euro

Start day — May 8

The participation
fee — 90 Euro

Start day — May 8

Sign up for the course

We will contact you and answer all the questions