PHIL 767 : Global Justice

Arts

2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examination of issues related to global justice, e.g., What, if anything, are people owed as a matter of justice in the global context? Is global equality of opportunity an important ideal? Which restrictions on immigration, if any, are justified? Are protectionist policies in trade justified? How can we better assist those in poor countries who are trying to help themselves?

Course Overview

This course examines issues related to global justice, such as: What, if anything, are people owed as a matter of justice in the global context? If there are duties of justice, what grounds these? Is distribution to assist the global disadvantaged justified? If so, on what basis should distribution proceed? Are global taxes defensible? Which restrictions on immigration, if any, are justified? Are protectionist policies in trade justified? Can globalisation be better harnessed to assist the global poor? How can we better assist those in poor countries who are trying to help themselves?

In the latter part of the course we will consider issues concerning the basis and limits of sovereignty and issues related to when (if ever) intervention is justified at the international level. Some questions considered here include: Is military intervention ever justified for humanitarian purposes (such as, in recent years in the case of Rwanda)? Can preventive or pre-emptive war ever be justified using the just war framework? Issues of global governance and democracy at the global level may also be considered.

Course Requirements

Restriction: PHIL 310

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Master strategies for reading, analysing, and critically discussing key positions in the global justice literature (Capability 1.1 and 2.1)
  2. Find, read, critically discuss and apply relevant texts concerning international justice problems (Capability 2.1)
  3. Engage in current debates about key concepts and arguments concerning global justice positions (Capability 1.1, 2.1 and 4.1)
  4. Conduct post-graduate level research both independently and with others (Capability 2.1, 4.1 and 5.1)
  5. Research and present work orally and in writing and help guide others through core philosophical problems in constructive ways (Capability 2.2, 4.1 and 5.2)
  6. Construct and critically evaluate arguments on international justice matters, mindful of their cultural, historical, political and ethical dimensions (Capability 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 60% Individual Coursework
Discussions 15% Individual Coursework
Presentation 25% Individual Coursework
I give students two choices about how they will be assessed.  Most students choose the option which I have outlined above.  More details about the options are as follows:

Option 1: One class presentation worth 25%, one essay worth 60%, class discussion worth 15%.

            OR

Option 2: One 6000 word essay worth 100%.  (A 15 minute short presentation is also a requirement of the course.  Failure to do the short presentation attracts a 5% penalty. If you choose Option 2 you must also do the early assignment. Failure to do the early assignment attracts a 5% penalty.)

Note: Option two accommodates some students desire to write a long essay, but also ensures that they keep up with work throughout the course as well.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 5 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 2 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page (https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894), which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 05/07/2020 03:04 p.m.