Social & Political Philosophy
Manchester
Liberal Arts::Philosophy
Credits: 4.0
Class Size: 25
Term:
Spring 2026
-
Full Term (01/20/2026
-
05/04/2026)
CRN:
56307
Grade Mode:
Letter Grading
Examines social and political thought that may include texts from ancient through contemporary times, addressing topics such as natural rights, revolution, law, freedom, justice, power. Questions may include: What is a community, and how are individuals related to communities? Can any particular form of government be morally justified, and if so, what kind of government? Can anarchism work? Is there something wrong with a society in which there is private ownership of property? What is oppressive? What is freedom, and are we free? What roles should different forms of power play in a society? Could and should there be a genderless society? Is ethnic diversity valuable?
Equivalent(s):
PHIL 436H,
PHIL 436W,
PHIL 437
Instructors:
Phillip Deen
Times & Locations
| Start Date | End Date | Days | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/20/2026 | 5/4/2026 | T | 1:10pm - 4:00pm | PANDRA 341 |
Additional Course Details:
This course will focus on justice, which has been described as the central political virtue. We will discuss issues such as what people deserve, what limits there are to the authority of the government, what we owe to one another in our interpersonal lives, whether the market is sufficient to provide justice, whether we are morally equal and, if so, what this means for how we distribute social goods. Concretely, we will discuss the justice of affirmative action, health care, and taxation. In short, we will emphasize issues of whether the current arrangement of economic wealth and social power is just.
Booklist
| Book | Details |
|---|---|
|
JUSTICE:A READER
07
by SANDEL
Required
|
|
|
JUSTICE:WHAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO
09
by SANDEL
Required
|
|
