This course introduces students to some major contemporary theories of distributive justice. It allows them to scrutinize, compare, and assess those theories, and to consider their application to questions of intra- and international institutional design.

16 x 1hr lectures

4 x 1hr seminars over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus

PHIL4054

None.

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ 2 x Essay (2500 words) - 100%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the essays, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course aims to:

■ Familiarize students with the philosophical study of contemporary theories of distributive justice, including different varieties of egalitarianism, libertarianism, sufficientarianism and prioritarianism, and different views concerning the proper currency of distributive justice;

■ Develop students' ability to criticise and develop their own theories of distributive justice;

■ Apply both established and students' own views on distributive justice to questions of intra- and international institutional design.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Explain the content of a number of contemporary theories of distributive justice, including different varieties of egalitarianism, libertarianism, sufficientarianism and prioritarianism, and different views concerning the proper currency of distributive justice;

■ Compare and evaluate these theories;

■ Apply these theories to real-world political and economic policies and institutions;

■ Communicate their own political philosophical ideas and arguments clearly and effectively.