TH 893-01 Contemporary Theories of Justice
Spring, 2008, Wednesday, 10--11:50 a.m.
Office:
Office hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 4:00-5:00 p.m., and by appointment
Phone: 617-552-8855
E-mail: hollenb@bc.edu Webpage: http://www2.bc.edu/~hollenb
Since the publication of
The course presumes a fairly advanced background in theological and philosophical ethics. The course is intended primarily for doctoral students. Others with appropriate background may participate with the consent of the instructor. Students with less background or with an interest primarily in applied social ethics will not find this course suitable for them.
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Syllabus
Books marked
* are available in the
1/16 Introduction to the course.
1/23 A Jewish political theorist's retrieval of the bible on justice
*Michael Walzer, Exodus and Revolution.
Supplementary:
Edward Said, "Michael Walzer's 'Exodus and Revolution': A Canaanite
and Revolution,'"
Walzer, Interpretation and Social Criticism
Walzer, "A Particularism of My Own," Religious Studies Review 16:1 (1990), 193-97.
Walzer, Thick and Thin: Moral Argument at Home and Abroad.
Moshe Weinfeld, Social Justice in Ancient
Norbert Lohfink, Option for the Poor: The Basic Principle of Liberation Theology in
Light of the Bible.
Bible and Social Justice,” Studies in the Spirituality of Jesuits 25/2 (March, 1993), pp. 1-75. This issue of Studies is a valuable resource for further study on the use of the bible in social ethics, social ministry, and in the formation of a socially conscious spirituality.
1/30 Christian love and justice: an analysis of their relationship
*Gene Outka, Agape: An Ethical Analysis (Yale University Press), chaps. 1, 3 and 8.
Supplementary background reading on approaches to justice in recent theological ethics:
Paul Ramsey, Basic Christian Ethics, chaps. 7 and 9.
Gerard Gilleman, The Primacy of Charity in Moral Theology, pp. 330-341.
Reinhold Niebuhr, An Interpretation of Christian Ethics, chap. 4.
Reinhold Niebuhr, the Nature and Destiny of Man, Vol. II, chap. IX.
Paul Tillich, Love, Power, and Justice
Karen Lebacqz, Six Theories of Justice: Perspectives from Philosophical and Theological
Ethics.
an Essential Requirement of the Gospel Message," pp. 39-63.
Friday, Feb. 1, 12:30—2:30 pm Center for Human Rights and International Justice
lunch conversation, with Peter Uvin, Academic Dean of the
2/6 From covenant to social contract--Locke and liberalism
*
Supplementary:
Wednesday, February 13, 7:30 pm, McGuinn 121, center for human rights and international justice event. Thomas g. weiss speaks on Human Rights and a New U.N.: Academics, Practitioners, and NGOs.
Weiss is Presidential Professor of Political Science at the
2/13 Kant, freedom, and the autonomous self
*Immanuel Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, trans. James W. Ellington (Hackett).
2/20
*
§§ 1-4, 8, 11-17 (pp. 3-22, 40-45, 60-108).
2/27 Rawls II: Justifying and institutionalizing justice as fairness
*Rawls, A Theory of Justice, §§ 20-30, 33-35, 39-40, 42-44
(pp. 118-192, 205-221, 243-257, 265-293).
3/5 No class--spring break
3/12 Michael Walzer I: Complex equality in multiple communities
*Michael Walzer, Spheres of Justice: A Defense of Pluralism and Equality, preface and chaps. 1-5.
3/19 Walzer II: Justice in diverse forms of relationship
*Walzer, Spheres of Justice, chaps. 6-13.
Supplementary:
Walzer, Politics and Passion: Toward a More Egalitarian Liberalism
Journal of Religious Ethics 22:2 (Fall, 1994), Focus section on Walzer, with articles by
Tyler Roberts,
3/26 Justice, human rights and natural law--a retrieval of Thomas Aquinas.
*Jacques Maritain, Man and the State, chaps. 1-4, 6
4/2 Justice in Interpersonal Relationships
*Margaret A. Farley, Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics, selections.
4/9 Justice and Development
*Amartya Sen, Development as Freedom, Introduction and chaps. 1-7, 12.
Supplementary:
Martha Nussbaum, Women and Human Development.
Sen, Inequality Reexamined.
4/16 A Christian response
to justice in the
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Economic
Justice for All: A Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the
4/23 Presentation of student papers
4/30 Presentation of student papers
Tues, 5/6, 9-11 am, or Wed. 5/7, 10-11:50 am. Presentation of student papers. Since this class has no final exam, the final exam period will be used for the presentation of the final set of student papers. Or if all prefer, the regular class time on May 7 will be used for this purpose.
Requirements:
1. Participation in all class discussions and completion of assigned readings in advance of class.
2. Working in teams of two, students will introduce the class discussion several times during the semester (the number of times depending on course enrollment). Working together, they will prepare a one page hand-out, with copies to be distributed to all participants at the beginning of the class as a basis for discussion. This hand-out should contain:
(a) The three or four major theses of the readings for the day, stated in complete sentences. A thesis is not a list or summary of various points to be considered. It is a brief, simple, and direct statement of the position being affirmed by the author of the material read. At the beginning of class the students in the team for the day will be asked to state their theses, explain them, and briefly present the author's argument for them. This presentation of the theses should take no more than 15 minutes. The goal is to initiate class discussion that will determine and clarify the main argument of the assigned readings.
(b) One or two central questions the class should address in order to assess the significance and truth of the readings. These questions should concern central issues that must be addressed by the class to evaluate the author's position. The question or questions will be dealt with in the later part of the class discussion.
3. A final term paper, 20 pages double-spaced, on an aspect of the material covered in the course. Ordinarily the paper should deal the course material in some depth, focusing on one of the authors considered, a problem treated by one or several of the authors assigned, or on a question to which the authors studied can make direct contributions. Only by way of exception will approval be given for a paper dealing with author(s) or question(s) not dealt with in the course materials or closely related to the course materials.
Schedule for development of the paper:
Students should meet with the instructor to discuss the topic of the paper before March 1.
By, March 15 students should submit a written proposal for the paper, including proposed versions of the title of the paper, of the problem or question to be addressed, of the thesis that will be argued, and a preliminary bibliography that will be studied. The problem/question to be addressed should be clearly stated in whole sentences. A preliminary outline (again in whole sentences) should be included. At the time the proposal is submitted, the student will make an appointment to discuss the proposal with the instructor. This proposal should be at most two pages in length, double spaced.
It is the student's responsibility to make the appointments for the two meetings mentioned above.
Draft papers will be presented to the class in the final sessions of the seminar. The draft paper will be distributed electronically to seminar participants by NOON on the Monday before the presentation will be made.
The paper is due on Friday, May 9. Students who need final grades submitted by a specified date in order to graduate should make arrangements for the date the paper will be submitted at the meeting where the proposal is discussed.
4. Academic Integrity.
Violations of academic integrity will be reported to your class dean and judged by the academic integrity committee in your school. If you are found responsible for violating the policy, penalties may include a failing grade as well as possible probation, suspension, or expulsion, depending on the seriousness and circumstances of the violation.