Ethical Empowerment: Reflections on the NSA Scandal

These meetings will continue the format, on a smaller level, of topical discussions that have preceded. Virtually all of the topics that have been the focus of past discussions were either the result of my reflections and writing of my book, Ethical Empowerment (http://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Empowerment-Virtue-Paradigms-ebook/dp/B00D7L8UJ2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1370926323&sr=8-5&keyword) or--since the eBook version has been published, directly associated with some of its particular sections. Moving forward, we will continue to discuss topics that I raise in the book but we will also look at a broad spectrum of philosophical issues, social issues and controversies from the perspective of ethical empowerment.

Does not the achievement of virtue first require ethical empowerment or the wherewithal to at least begin the journey towards the attainment of virtue? For example, a society that is interested in economic empowerment must at a bare minimum create equal opportunities for employment and education, as well as other things. However, the provision of these types of economic empowerment does not guarantee financial success. Those who become economically empowered must then take advantage, work hard and , perhaps with a little luck too, achieve success. There are tricky questions here concerning the nature of ethical empowerment. Learning to live an ethical life is certainly one aspect of ethical empowerment, but perhaps only a few may attain virtue and, indeed, greatness. How does one become empowered so as to set upon the path of virtue? What is ethical empowerment? What do empowered perspectives on individuals and societies look like, and what might they look like in future societies?

Today's discussion will concern the Snowden/NSA scandal, and the philosophical as well as political ramifications that intersect privacy and freedom.

To reach me at my office, call 617-964-4800

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Ethical Empowerment (http://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Empowerment-Virtue-Beyond-Paradigms-ebook/dp/B00IZ2FILG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1394712065&sr=8-5&keywords=ethical+empowerment)

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