Module 9 – Justice at the Edge: Mind, Body, and the Unknown

Module Focus

In this final module, we explore the deepest frontiers of justice — where traditional categories no longer apply, and where human understanding itself may be tested.

From mental illness to disability, from nonhuman intelligence to posthuman futures, this module asks:

• What does it mean to be a moral agent?

• Who counts as a person?

• Can we speak of justice beyond the human experience?

This is not a module about easy answers — but about courageous questions.

What You’ll Learn

Throughout these 10 lessons, you will:

• Reflect on the ethical treatment of people living with mental illness and disabilities

• Analyze how science, law, and politics shape the definition of personhood

• Examine the promises and perils of biotechnology, AI, and space exploration

• Confront philosophical questions that challenge human-centered assumptions

• Practice humility — and intellectual bravery — in the face of the unknown

Key Questions

• Who gets to define what is normal or sane?

• Are bodies, minds, and intelligence all equally protected by justice?

• Can justice exist beyond the human species — or even beyond Earth?

A Thought to Begin

“Justice is not a destination — it’s a debate.”

In this final module, the debate becomes more mysterious, more urgent, and more expansive.

Justice becomes not just a social question — but a cosmic one.