Introductory description

Should the government make sure that you are not lonely? What makes an act of rudeness a microaggression, and is a microaggression an act of injustice? Is there something suspect about state support for marriage?

These are just some of the questions we will address in Justice & Equality. In this module, students engage with cutting-edge topics in political philosophy, like justice and social deprivation, marriage, microaggressions, gentrification and homelessness. The aim is that, by the end of the module, students should be able to propose and defend their own arguments in one of these areas.

For those new to political philosophy, there is a short introductory component covering key thinkers on both the left and right of contemporary normative thought.

The module is taught via a weekly two-hour seminar, structured as a discussion of a key issue or thinker.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

During the module, we will study topics such as the following: John Rawls, John Tomasi's Free Market Fairness, Luck and Social Egalitarianism, Justice and Social Deprivation, Microaggressions, Marriage, Homelessness and Gentrification.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of key arguments and thinkers in recent moral and political theory
• Analyse and evaluate at an advanced level opposing normative arguments concerning justice and equality
• Demonstrate enhanced key skills such as written and oral communication skills, problem solving, working with others, and information technology skills
• Construct and substantiate a comprehensive and sophisticated argument for a particular position

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Specific reading list for the module

Subject specific skills

By the end of the modules students will be able to:

Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of key arguments and thinkers in recent moral and political theory

Analyse and evaluate at an advanced level opposing normative arguments concerning justice and equality

Demonstrate enhanced key skills such as written and oral communication skills, problem solving, working with others, and information technology skills

Construct and substantiate a comprehensive and sophisticated argument for a particular position

Transferable skills

Advanced critical thinking and analytical skills, such as identifying premises and conclusions of arguments; determining whether the conclusions follow from the premises; and understanding the practical implications of theoretical commitments.

Advanced oral and written communication skills: constructing a case for a particular position, and defending a particular viewpoint, both orally and in writing.