Human Rights and Social Justice

Philosophy 3510 with Dr. Gregory Owcarz in MI 4011 on MWF at 10:40 – 11:50 pm

“Many people would sooner die than think. In fact they do.” - Bertrand Russell

Required Readings

The Curious Enlightenment of Professor Caritat

by Steven Lukes (Verso, 1995)

Justice: Alternative Political Perspectives, 3^rd Edition

by James Sterba (Wadsworth, 1999)

Taking Sides: Clashing Issues on Controversial Social Issues, 10^th Edition

by Kurt Finsterbusch (Dushkin, 1999)

Supplemental Readings

Elements of Style

by Strunk and White (MacMillan, 1979)

“Five Fables about Human Rights”

by Steven Lukes (on library reserve)

Additional Assistance

Office Hours: MW 12:00-1:00pm (Bet On It) TTh 12:00-1:00pm (Another Good Bet)

Office Contact: Tel. 885-3546/3225, Email GOwcarz@csuhayward.edu, Mailbox in MI 4006

Course Description

This course throws light on varied viewpoints and controversies surrounding the nature of rights and justice. The focus is both theoretical and practical, in that theories of rights and justice as well as related public policies and even personal practices come under scrutiny. The course likewise moves to and fro between historical luminaries like Marx and Mill and contemporary critiques found for instance in Rawls and Nozick. A learned approach on these issues allows one to shift between individual and universal outlooks, between psychological and political perspectives, the better to connect one’s own concerns to more worldly ones.

The libertarian, socialist, liberal democratic, and communitarian conceptions of human rights and social justice are put forth and examined, and feminist and postmodern ways of thinking are also considered. To be sure, philosophical questions abound in such an undertaking – Are the poor to blame for poverty? Should government intervene for the sake of equality? Is America in moral decline? Will the subjection of women ever cease? Do absolute truths about justice actually exist? – to name but a few. The aim is to grope for, stumble through, and stretch across something like philosophical answers.

Class Format

Some lectures will be given where necessary to introduce new material or difficult concepts. However, along with examining and evaluating theories, we will consider how one ought to implement theory in everyday life, for which discussion is fundamental. Students are asked to present completed essays, participate in class activities, and contribute to class discussion.

Requirements and Policies

1. Two In-Class Exams. Each exam constitutes 35% of the final course grade, but the final exam presupposes familiarity with material from the midterm exam. There will be a review for each exam during the class meeting immediately preceding it. Make-up exams will not be offered.

2. Homework Assignments. Response papers will be assigned for each class meeting, two papers per student, which will be distributed and discussed. These endeavors facilitate classroom discussion and ensure that a steady course of study is maintained to keep up with the subject matter. Late papers will not be accepted, and no course grades are given without them.

3. Periodic Reading Quizzes. Each quiz will be short and unannounced, and will indicate whether preparations have been made regarding the readings for that day’s class discussion.

4. Class Participation. Classroom activities and discussion constitute 30% of the final course grade, to be determined according to attendance, paper and quiz marks, and classroom participation. Attendance and assignments tend to reflect the degree and quality of participation in classroom goings-on, and so grading will naturally reflect that participation via those means.

Tentative Schedule of Topics

Week One: Rights and Justice Simply Put

- Readings: “Five Fables about Human Rights”, Curious Enlightenment, Justice pp. 2-21

Week Two: The Libertarian Manifesto

- Readings: Curious Enlightenment, Justice pp. 24-34, Taking Sides pp. 137-167

Week Three: Libertarian Haves and Libertarian Have-Nots

- Readings: Justice pp. 24-34, Taking Sides pp. 137-167

Week Four: The Socialist Ideal

- Readings: Justice pp. 70-78, 99-101, Taking Sides pp. 206-245

Week Five: No Government like No Government

- Readings: Justice pp. 70-78, 99-101, Taking Sides pp. 206-245

Midterm Exam

Week Six: The Liberal Democratic Ebb and Flow

- Readings: Justice pp. 104-125, 137-149, Taking Sides pp. 2-21, 354-375

Week Seven: The American Pie

- Readings: Justice pp. 104-125, 137-149, Taking Sides pp. 2-21, 354-375

Week Eight: The Subjection of Women

- Readings: Justice pp. 258-281, Taking Sides pp. 60-99

Week Nine: Martian Men and Venetian Women

- Readings: Justice pp. 258-281, Taking Sides pp. 60-99

Week Ten: The Postmodern Condition

- Readings: Justice pp. 308-315, 321-334

Final Exam