The issue of how to distribute economic, social and political benefits (and also burdens) has been a major focus of recent work in political philosophy and is also contested among citizens in contemporary democracies.  This course will begin by analyzing the concept of distributive justice, as it has been variously discussed from liberal, libertarian, communitarian, social democratic, and feminist ethics perspectives, by such philosophers as John Rawls, Robert Nozick, Alastair MacIntyre, G. A. Cohen, and Susan Okin.  Nancy Fraser’s account of the role of recognition in relation to redistribution will also frame some application of justice to current controversies regarding race and gender.  Yet, in view of the growing interrelations of societies and economies worldwide, the crucial question of global justice presents itself for consideration, in terms of our obligations to alleviate poverty and to establish a more egalitarian world order.  The course will go on to discuss such new cosmopolitan approaches to justice as those of Thomas Pogge, Charles Beitz, Simon Caney, and Martha Nussbaum, and will touch on some of the institutional changes that may be required in order to meet people’s basic needs or economic human rights worldwide.      

Students will have an opportunity to relate the course readings to their own special interests in an analytical term paper and will be expected to contribute to class discussion and give a short oral presentation on one of the course topics.

Readings will be available on Blackboard.