Unit I. Modern society

WORKSHOP 1

Richard Wilkinson, public health researcher. July 2011 ( 16:54).

I. Identify the topic of the talk given by Richard Wilkinson, public health researcher.

II. For questions a-f decide whether the statements are true or false (if false, explain why):

a) According to Richard Wilkinson life expectancy, health and social problems in developed market democracies correlate with gross national income per capita.

b) Unlike in the developed countries wellbeing of societies in poorer states is still dependent on national income and economic growth.

c) The researchers carried out the surveys in both rich developed countries and poorer countries.

d) The presentation shows the connection between income inequality within societies and levels of trust, violence, child wellbeing and academic performance.

e) Greater equality is especially important for the most disadvantaged groups, but is also relevant to those at the top.

f) Richard Wilkinson does not consider it particularly important how the more equal countries achieved their status.

III. Identify the thesis of the talk.

IV. Give the gist/summary of the talk.

V. What solution does the author see to the inequality problem? Agree or disagree with it, give your reasons (if necessary, play again the episode from 16:00-16:55).

WORKSHOP 2

Jamie Drummond, co-founder of the advocacy organization ONE, whose central themes are ending extreme poverty and fighting the AIDS pandemic. June 2012. (12:10).

I. Identify the topic of the talk given by Jamie Drummond .

II. For questions a-d decide whether the statements are true or false (if false, explain why):

a) Jamie Drummond believes that the Millennium Development Goals are an unworthy cause and progress made in this sphere has been insufficient.

b) Since the Millennium Goals package did not include many global challenges, according to Jamie Drummond we should abandon it and pursue a completely new policy based on crowdsourcing rather than relying on UN technocrats, summits and other conventional ways.

c) Jamie Drummond advocates a bottom-up process of deciding what goals should be on the agenda and monitoring if the results are delivered.

d) From Drummond's viewpoint crowdsourcing is to help world leaders to set and implement the goals.

III. Identify the thesis of the talk.

IV. Give the gist/summary of the talk.

V. Jamie Drummond places a high premium on crowdsourcing [2]. How important do you think crowdscourcing is to delivering the Millennium Goals?

WORKSHOP 3

Steven Pinker, linguist. March 2007. (19:15).

I. Pre-watching task: working in pairs support the statement you agree with:

• Today we are living in the most peaceful time in our species' existence.

• Modernity has brought us terrible violence.

II. Comprehension questions:

a) What are the topic and thesis of the talk given by the linguist Steven Pinker?

b) How does Steven Pinker substantiate his thesis?

c) Why according to Steven Pinker do many people mistakenly believe that violence has been on the increase?

d) What reasons does Steven Pinker find to explain the decline of violence?

III. Give the gist/summary of the talk.

IV. Expand on the following:

· Everything that makes it easier to imagine trading places with someone else increases your moral consideration for that other person.

· No one ever attracted observers, advocates and donors by saying that things just seem to be getting better and better.

WORKSHOP 4

Michael Sandel, American political philosopher and a professor at Harvard University. June 2013 (14:37)

I. Pre-watching task: working in pairs support the statement you agree with:

Money governs access to the essentials of good life, i.e. decent health care, access to the best education, political voice, etc.

People of different social backgrounds and different walks of life should encounter one another in the ordinary course of life, this is how people come to care for the common good.

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