Ethical Dilemma in Classic Sci-Fi Story in Spotlight for WT’s Great Books Series in June

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — A profound ethical quandary pitting the life of many versus the life of one child will be up for discussion in the next installment of West Texas A&M University’s Great Books Series.

Dr. Patricia Tyrer, WT’s Jenny Lind Porter Professor of English, will lead the discussion of Tom Godwin’s “The Cold Equations” at 7 p.m. June 14 via Zoom.

The discussion series — sponsored by the Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages — is open to those who either have or haven’t read the book, said Dr. Daniel Bloom, Great Books organizer and associate professor of philosophy.

Tyrer said the story, originally published in 1954 in Astounding Magazine, caused quite a stir. In the tale, a transport ship is taking medicine to an outpost on a nearby planet, and it’s only outfitted with the precise amount of fuel required. But the young sister of one of the planet’s inhabitants has slipped onto the ship, jeopardizing everything because the ship now won’t have enough fuel to reach the planet.

“Basically, it’s the same philosophical pondering of ‘kill one to save many’ or ‘save the one with you to ultimately sacrifice the many’,” Tyrer said. “The story is created with good physics and bad engineering—there is no room for error. In most discussions of this piece, it’s been difficult to keep participants to accept the parameters of the story. I expect we’ll have a good discussion about the need for difficult decisions in time of crisis.”

WT professors and guest lecturers lead the monthly discussions.

The series began in 2011 and is traditionally held in person on the second Tuesday of the month at Burrowing Owl Books, 7406 S.W. 34th Ave., Suite 2B, in Amarillo. It shifted to Zoom during the Covid-19 pandemic; a return to in-person meetings is expected to occur in September.

To register for the June discussion, email Tyrer at ptyrer@wtamu.edu.

The series is one way in which WT serves the region by offering engagement with a variety of literary and philosophical texts. Being a learner-centered university is a key principle of the University’s long-term plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the five-year campaign — which publicly launched Sept. 23 — has raised about $110 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

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