A Special Edition of Berg Banter

The Barker Center Cafe may no longer sell coffee, but the takes served up at a special edition of Berg Banter were piping hot! On February 25th, English Professor Tara Menon and Assistant Social Studies and Sociology Professor Adaner Usmani— who happen to be happily married— graciously welcomed first-years to their dinner table. That evening, they sought to settle a longstanding debate: how should we conceive of blameworthiness and moral culpability? Professor Menon argued that we are all culpable for failing to act in accordance with the moral principles we claim to endorse. Guilt, she believes, is an effective tool to guide behavior. Professor Usmani, on the other hand, felt that we ought to praise those who act better than the average person. He posited that the point of creating a system of blame and praise is to direct human behavior, and we need ways to make distinctions between individuals.

Students had many questions for the couple. To what extent should personal relationships influence moral obligations? How much guilt is healthy before it becomes debilitating? How do we find a middle ground between moral relativity and objectivity? One example that was raised was the issue of hiring domestic servants. Both professors strongly condemned the practice. Is there a difference, then, between those who treat their servants with respect and those who are callous towards them? Both professors felt that not everyone is equally bad, but Professor Menon emphasized that, ultimately, both individuals are acting in a morally reprehensible manner.

Before launching into the debate, Professor Usmani earned a few smiles by expressing his love for his wife. He also clarified that while the professors may at times disagree passionately, a strong relationship necessitates an alignment on the important things in life— and that, he said, the pair enjoy. We may not all debate moral philosophy with a significant other, but the principle of grounding dialogue in mutual understanding and admiration is applicable to all intellectually vital conversations.