Noted Scholar and Philosopher Martha Nussbaum Speaking at Humanities Center Lecture

Since the events of 9/11, the Muslim community has been stigmatized for the horrific events of that day. Today there are approximately 2.7 million Muslims in the United States. The American Muslim population is expected to increase in the next two decades. Many of these families have been here for generations, and they are the pillars of their communities. Thinking individuals know we cannot blame a community for the actions of a minority. Yet, it is often difficult to see one's way to such truth. Martha Nussbaum provides a rational and morally appropriate prescription to allay the anxieties and prejudices against the Muslim population during this tumultuous decade. Professor Nussbaum advocates "equal respect for human dignity," "principled consistency and self-examination," and an "active, curious imagination" which is accepting of different religious perspectives. Her talk will provide an ethical roadmap for understanding and confronting the roots of such hatred.

Among other publications, Dr. Nussbaum has written Political Emotions: Why Love Matters for Justice (pending Fall 2013), The New Religious Intolerance: Overcoming the Politics of Fear in an Anxious Age (2012), and Creating Capabilities: The Human Development Approach (2011).

Go to http://www.law.uchicago.edu/faculty/nussbaum/ to read Dr. Nussbaum's biography.

Brief reception to follow in University Center Ballroom.