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Title
1013 Philosophy
Instructors
Dr. Oliver M. Feldmann, Univ.Prof. Dr. Richard Raatzsch
Contact details
Dr. Oliver Feldmann/oliver.feldmann@wu.ac.at
Type
SE PI
Weekly hours
2
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
09/03/12 to 09/24/12
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Subject(s) Doctoral/PhD Programs
Research Seminar in Main Subject I - Philosophy
Research Seminar in Main Subject II - Philosophy
Research Seminar in Main Subject III - Philosophy
Research Seminar in Main Subject IV - Philosophy
Dissertation-relevant theories - Philosophy
Research Seminar - Philosophy
Research Seminar - Philosophy
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Wednesday 10/10/12 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM SR Inst. Wirtschafts-u. Sozialgeschichte
Wednesday 10/24/12 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM SR Inst. Wirtschafts-u. Sozialgeschichte
Wednesday 11/07/12 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM SR Inst. Wirtschafts-u. Sozialgeschichte
Wednesday 11/21/12 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM SR Inst. Wirtschafts-u. Sozialgeschichte
Wednesday 12/05/12 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM SR Inst. Wirtschafts-u. Sozialgeschichte
Wednesday 12/19/12 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM SR Inst. Wirtschafts-u. Sozialgeschichte
Wednesday 01/09/13 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM SR Inst. Wirtschafts-u. Sozialgeschichte
Wednesday 01/23/13 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM SR Inst. Wirtschafts-u. Sozialgeschichte

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Contents

This course examines classical and contemporary theories of justice, by comparing and critically analyzing the principles developed to guide the distribution of wealth, rights, power, and opportunities in a society. We will thereby especially focus (a) on the idea of a conceptual relationships between “justice and” “equality”, presupposed or rejected in classical political philosophy (Locke, Kant), and (b) on the recently raised “equality of what” (Sen) question. Thus the last part of this course will discuss contemporary egalitarian, libertarian and welfare principles of distributive justice (Rawls, Williams, Nozick, Dworkin).


Questions: What is justice? Justice and the idea of a state of nature (Locke). What could count as expression of freedom? Property and Rights (Locke, Hume, Smith). Why “freedom” is not just a logically negative concept” – freedom and duty (Kant). What is a just distribution – or “equality of what? “Equality” and “justice” (Rawls, Williams). The debate between egalitarianism and libertarianisms (Rawls , Williams, Nozick, Dworkin). What are “well being” principles of justice? (Sen).

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Learning outcomes
(i)    students will deepen their ability to analyze accounts developed in political philosophy in response to questions concerning distribute justice
(ii)   apply fundamental concepts used in debates on distributive justice,
       a.    of distributive justice
(iii)   evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of contemporary moral philosophy
(iv)   argue for the limitations of a purely formal understanding of ‘equality’
(v)   they will be able to analyze the application of ‘tools’ drawn from the discussed principles to concrete cases

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Teaching/learning method(s)
Lecture, text analysis, discussion. working groups
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Assessment
20% 4 response papers (5% each)
20% 1short midterm exam (30 minutes)
30% contribution in class and on Learn WU
30%  final paper  
Response papers will be answerable at home, (10 – 15 questions distributed at the end of the weeks 1, 2, 4, and 5 ) the midterm (on the second Saturday) and the final exam (in the last week) will be held in-class, the final paper will have explore one of the principles of distributive justice

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Availability of lecturer(s)
E-Mail: oliver.feldmann@wu.ac.at
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Unit details
Unit Date Contents
1 Session 1&2 “What do economists talk about  when they talk about morally required actions?” What is morailty? What are its principles? What is its foundation?: Immanuel Kant
2 Session 3

A. The state of nature: John Locke “Second Treatise of Government “ and David Hume as his

  • What are the principles of justice according to the idea of a social contract? - the obligation of respecting everybody’s freedom?
  • The logically negative meaning of “freedom”.
  • What is the relationship between freedom and property?
  • What are the principles of justice see(A)
3 Session 4&5

B. What are the rationalities of “justice” as normative concept? Is it possible for normative concepts to have an entirely restrictive meaning?

  • John Rawls’ theory as an alternative to utilitarianism. What are the foundation  of institutions in a society –what are the liberties of a citizien?
  • Two different accounts of a state of natute
  • Locke, Mill, Mill,  and John Rawls
  • “Justice” as “Fairness”: A Theory of Justice.
4 Session 6&7 C. Do the concepts “justice” and “fairness” really mean the same ?  
  • what could count as application of libertarian or egalitarian ideas in economy?
  • Libertarianism  and Egalitarianism – the modern deabte: 
    Williams, B.:  “The Idea of Equality”.
    Nozick, R.: Anarchy, State, and Utopia.
    Dworkin, R.: “What is Equality? And “Equality of Resources”.
    Dworkin, R.: Taking Rights Seriously. 
    Walzer, M.: Spheres of Justice:a Defense of Pluralism and Equality.
    Sen, A.: Inequality Reexamined.
  • and its source in classical economical thought: Adam Smith  
5 Session 8 D. Economical Values 
6 Session 9 E. Karl Marx 
7 Session 10 Looking back
Last edited: 2012-03-30