TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Doug Husak, a professor in the philosophy department at Rutgers, will present his lecture “Four Points about Drug Criminalization” at 7:30 p.m. October 2 in room 30 of ten Hoor Hall on The University of Alabama campus as part of the 2008-2009 Philosophy Today lecture series.
Husak, who has a doctorate in philosophy and a law degree from Ohio State University, specializes in the philosophy of law, specifically the connections between moral philosophy and substantive criminal law. These interests have led him examine the rationale for drug prohibitions and the decriminalization of illegal drugs.
He is the author of five books pertaining to the legalization of illegal drugs, including his most recent publications “Overcriminalization” and “The Legalization of Drugs.” He also has published more than 50 scholarly articles and more than a dozen book chapters on the philosophy of various aspects of criminal law.
In his UA lecture, Husak plans to explore the issues surrounding drug legalization and to clarify common misconceptions people have about the legalization of drugs. He encourages those on both sides of this issue, especially those who are opposed to the legalization of drugs, to attend.
“This is an important issue because we spend billions of dollars every year, lock up hundreds, and arrest millions of people because of illegal drugs. Because of the sheer number of people and resources at stake, it’s more important than capital punishment,” Husak said.
The 2008-2009 Philosophy Today lecture series features four experts lecturing on several key areas of philosophy. These free, non-technical lectures are geared toward a general audience and should be of interest to those in any profession or academic discipline.
“For a second year, the department of philosophy is delighted to offer the university community a series of four public talks by some of the finest philosophers working today,” said Dr. H. Scott Hestevold, chairman of the department of philosophy in UA’s College of Arts and Sciences. “Last year, the public talks focused on the state of contemporary research in core areas of philosophy. This year, the public talks will address extraordinarily controversial philosophical or social problems. The series opens with a talk on legalizing drugs, and it ends with a talk on cloning humans.”
The series is sponsored by The University of Alabama’s College of Arts and Sciences, the department of philosophy, a grant from Louis W. Perry of La Jolla, Calif. and Frank Peters of Corona del Mar, Calif., and other alumni and friends of the department.
Parking for the Oct. 2 public lecture is available in the parking decks beside and behind ten Hoor Hall.
Other speakers in the 2008-2009 series are:
October 28, 2008
Stephen Yablo
“Imagining Evil”
7:30 p.m., 110 AIME
March 26, 2009
Michael P. Lynch
“Faith in Reason”
7:30 p.m., 110 AIME
April 16, 2009
Alastair Norcross
“The Clone Wars: What’s Wrong With Human Cloning?”
7:30 p.m., 110 AIME
For more information, contact Dr. H. Scott Hestevold, chairman of the department of philosophy in UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, 205/348 1912.
The College of Arts and Sciences is the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All-American Teams.
Contact
Sarah Colwell, College of Arts and Sciences, 205/348-8539, sccolwell@as.ua.edu