Worth

Philosophy at the Movies - A podcast by Stockdale Center - Shaun Baker, PhD.

What does this film, based upon Ken Feinberg’s account of his work as Special Master of the 9/11 Victim’s Compensation Fund, tell us about the tension that exists between efforts to economically quantify the impact of the loss of human life and the sense of loss felt by surviving loved ones? What light does it shed on the uniqueness of individual human lives as the staff go about the process of interviewing survivors? How do the cases of Nick Donato and Graham Morris reflect the moral complexities involved in determining who gets compensated? How does the case illustrate the difficult work that goes into striking a workable balance between utility and justice? How do the interactions between Charles Wolf and Ken Feinberg show their sincere motivations, as contrasted with the cynical Lee Quinn?