Harvard Extension School
Course Syllabus, PHIL E-160/W (23590)
Updated 2/21/15
“Philosophical Problems of Economic Justice”
Spring 2015
Prof. Joanne Baldine
[email protected]
Office Hours: by appointment
TA: [email protected]
Tuesday, 7:40-9:40pm
1 Story St., #306
This course examines philosophical foundations of three fundamentally different economic systems —
capitalism, socialism/egalitarianism and the welfare state. Through the selection of readings we will
think critically about the prospects for economic justice introduced by each system. The main questions
will focus on what features an economic system and a society ought to have in order to be economically
just, and what sorts of claims the different classical economic systems advance in the name of economic
justice. In addition, we will critically examine opportunities for and obstacles to economic justice in the
current global economy – under conditions that did not exist for any of the three classical economic
systems. We will at all times consider requirements of a good life, the grounding of claims for a good
life, the problem of poverty, and the ways in which economic systems materially and culturally set
conditions for a productive, fair and just life for all members of the global community.
Required Texts, Movies, Links, and Course Pack.
Texts
Chomsky, Noam. Government in the Future. New York: Seven Stories Press, 1970. [Digital downloads
or “e-books” are available through a variety of sources, including Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Apple
I-Tunes.]
Friedman, Milton. Capitalism and Freedom, 40th Anniversary Edition with a new Preface by the author.
Chicago: U of Chicago Press, 1962.
Stiglitz, Joseph. The Price of Inequality. New York: W. Norton & Co., 2012. (Hardcover or digital
version is acceptable.
Movies:
Inside Job - Movie Website for the Documentary Film
www.sonyclassics.com/insidejob/
Inequality For All – Movie by Robert Reich
http://inequalityforall.com/
Links for Course Literature
John Locke, Second Treatise on Government:
www.constitution.org/jl/2ndtreat.htm
Adam Smith, Theory of Moral Sentiments:
http://www.econlib.org/library/Smith/smMSCover.html
Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations:
http://www.econlib.org/library/Smith/smWN.html
F. A. Hayek, Law, Legislation, and Liberty:
www.libertarianismo.org/livros/lllfh.pdf
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto
Karl Marx, Critique of the Gotha Program:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1875/gotha/
Peter Singer, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality:”
http://www.utilitarianism.net/singer/by/1972----.htm
Course Packet (available in hard copy at the Coop in hard copy and in digital format)
Nozick, Robert. “The Entitlement Theory of Justice,” selection from Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State, and
Utopia. New York, New York: Basic Books, 1974.
Piketty, Thomas. “Income and Output,” (Chapter 1) and “Growth: Illusions and Realities” (Chapter 2),
Capital in the Twenty-First Century. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard
University Press, 2014.
Nielson, Kai. “Radical Egalitarianism,” James Sterba, Justice: Alternative Political Perspectives. New
York: Wadsworth Publishing Co, 1999.
Sen, Amartya. “Lives, Freedoms and Capabilities.” (Chapter 11), The Idea of Justice. Cambridge,
Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2009.
Nagel, Thomas. “Moral Luck.” Thomas Nagel, Mortal Questions (Canto). Cambridge, England:
Cambridge, U Press, 1979.
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Rawls, John. Selections from A Theory of Justice. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard U Press, 1971.
Sen, Amartya. “Capabilities and Resources.”(Chapter 12), The Idea of Justice. Cambridge,
Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2009.
Suggested Reading (Most of these are available on reserve):
Boaz, David, ed. The Libertarian Reader. New York: The Free Press, 1997.
Nathanson, Stephen. Economic Justice. Foundations in Philosophy Series, Upper Saddle New Jersey:
Prentice Hall, 1998.
Rawls, John. A Theory of Justice. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard U Press, 1971.
Sen, Amartya. The Idea of Justice. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard U Press, 2009.
Smith, Adam. The Theory of Moral Sentiments. Introduction by Amartya Sen. New York: Penguin
Books, 2009.
Keynes, John Maynard, “Concluding Notes on the Social Philosophy Towards Which The General
Theory Might Lead,” (Chapter 24)) In John Maynard Keynes, The General Theory of
Employment, Interest, and Money.”
http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/economics/keynes/general-theory/
Suggested Viewing:
Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy. WBUR video. These videos give an excellent
historical and political background to the development of capitalism.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/index.html
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Course Requirements and grading.
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Attendance. Since many students will be taking the class online, and all registered students will have
access to video recordings of the class, there will be no traditional “attendance” requirement. It is
assumed that registered students will attend to the work each week, and that there will be evidence of
your participation in a variety of other ways.
One 1-2 page paper in which you sketch your very rough and preliminary ideas about the key features a
society ought to have in order for it to be economically just. This paper is due on the 2nd class, and it is
a homework assignment only and will not be graded. It presupposes no formal training or thinking about
economic justice; but it will be your first course related effort of putting your thoughts on paper. The
sketch is intended as a reference for you throughout the course as you develop your ideas about economic
justice.
Two papers will count for 40% of your grade. You will be required to write two 5-7 page essays; each
will count for 20% of your grade. Guidelines for writing the papers on assigned topics will be distributed
and discussed. Writing assignments are to be sent electronically exactly one week after you receive
comments on your draft paper.
One week in advance of handing in your papers, you are required to hand in a succinct one page (3 to 6
sentence) formulation of the three arguments you intend to present in your paper. The arguments
will not be graded. However, inasmuch as they are key to writing your paper, they are required, and no
paper will be graded without them. You will receive prompt feedback that will help you finalize your
paper. On some occasions, you may be asked to reformulate your argument.
Class participation will account for 20% of your grade. Thoughtful class participation is expected of
all students on a regular basis – either in person if you are attending the class in person, or via the
discussion board. The course involves intense reading and discussion based upon the readings.
Therefore, in order fully to participate - in the online discussion board, or in section and class discussions
you must carefully read the assigned text in advance of the class and prepare thoughtfully to discuss the
material. To assist your class preparation, discussion questions will be posted in advance of the class on
the course web site.
There will be 4 pop quizzes; the 3 with the highest scores will count for 15% of your grade. Quizzes
will be given at the beginning of class on the assigned reading. No pop quiz can be made up, even on
occasions in which you have an excused absence. The arrangement of these quizzes for online students
will be worked out.
The final exam paper in which you design your own economically just system (according to clearly
specified guidelines) will count for 25% of your grade. The final paper will be cumulative and based
upon readings in class, as well as your own independent thoughts that you develop throughout the course.
It will be made available a few weeks in advance of the end of the course.
There are no incompletes for this class. The final exam must be handed in on time.
40%
20%
15%
25%
100%
2 papers, each = 20%
Class participation
Quizzes & assignments
Final exam, cumulative
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Introduction to Philosophical Problems of Economic Justice
January
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Cancelled. Blizzard in Massachusetts!
February
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Introduction to the course content, objectives, structure and requirements.
Assignment #1: Write a 1-2 page paper in which you sketch your rough and preliminary
ideas on the topic “What features do you think a society ought to have in order to be
economically just?” This paper will not be graded, but it is a required assignment for
which you get credit. Due via email, by midnight February 3.
I. The Case for Capitalism.
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Philosophical underpinnings of liberalism.
 John Locke, Second Treatise on Government:
www.constitution.org/jl/2ndtreat.htm
Read Chapter 5: 25-39 and 46-51; Chapter 8: 95-97; Chapter 9:123-131;
Chapter 18:199, 211-212.
 Adam Smith, Theory of Moral Sentiments: (Selections noted below)
http://www.econlib.org/library/Smith/smMSCover.html
(All selections are in Part III.) Within Part III read all of Chapter 1 and the
following chapter selections: Chapter 2, 8-12; and Chapter 3, 76-78 and 8083.
 Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations:
http://www.econlib.org/library/Smith/smWN.html
Book 1, Chapter 1, read: 1-3, 5; Book 1, Chapter 2, read: 1-4;
Book 1, Chapter 5, read: 1-4 Book 4, Chapter 2, read: 4, 5, & 9
Be prepared to discuss discussion questions #1
Hand in hard copy of 1-2 page 1st assignment.
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Robert Nozick, “The Entitlement Theory of Justice.” Course Pack.
Discussion questions #2
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Milton Friedman. Capitalism and Freedom. Chapters 1-3 (pp. 1-55) and Chapters 7-8
pp. 108-136.
Discussion questions #3
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F. A. Hayek, “Made Orders and Spontaneous Orders,” pp. 35-54 in Law, Legislation, and
Liberty. http://www.libertarianismo.org/livros/lllfh.pdf
Discussion questions # 4
March
1-page draft of arguments for libertarianism & free market capitalism is due by midnight
3/3 via Canvas “Assignment.” (Click on the Assignment button on the home page, then
upload your arguments.) Guidelines are posted on the course web site. Comments on your
draft will usually be sent to you within 2-4 days. Your paper is due exactly one week after
receiving written comments on your draft.
II. Critiques of Capitalism & Proposed Corrections
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Marx and Engel’s classical critique of Capitalism. The Communist Manifesto and The
Critique of the Gotha Programme. A socialist vision of justice and the good life.
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1875/gotha/
Discussion questions # 5
1st paper due one week after your arguments are approved
Watch: Inside Job - Movie Website for the Documentary Film
www.sonyclassics.com/insidejob/
Watch: Inequality for all – Movie by Robert Reich.
http://inequalityforall.com/
Spring Break March 15-22. (No class on March 17)
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Piketty, Chapter 1 & 2, (Course Pack) from his book Capital in the Twenty-First Century.
Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2014.
Discussion questions # 6
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Joseph Stiglitz, The Price of Inequality. Chapters 1-3 (pp. 1-83). Chapter 7 (pp. 187-207)
Discussion questions # 7
April
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Kai Nielson, “Radical Egalitarianism” (Course Pack)
Discussion questions # 8
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Noam Chomsky, Government of the Future.
Discussion questions # 9
1-page draft of arguments (due by midnight April 14, via Canvas Assignment). Guidelines
will be provided. Comments on your draft will be sent to you usually within 2-4 days. Your
paper is due exactly one week after receiving written comments on your draft.)
IV. The Welfare State, World Poverty and Justice
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Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach. “Lives, Freedoms and Capabilities,”
Chapter 11; “Capabilities and Resources,” Chapter 12 (Course Pack) from his book The
Idea of Justice. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard University
Press 2009.
Discussion questions #10
2nd paper due one week after your arguments are approved
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Moral Arbitrariness
Thomas Nagel, “Moral Luck.” (Course Pack).
John Rawls, Selections from A Theory of Justice. (Course Pack).
Discussion questions # 11
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May
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John Rawls, Selections from A Theory of Justice. (Course Pack)
Discussion questions # 12
Final Take Home Essay Questions Handed Out Today. Due by midnight, May 12.
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The problem of poverty. Rights and Obligations.
Peter Singer. “Famine, Affluence, and Morality.”
http://www.utilitarianism.net/singer/by/1972----.htm
Muhammad Yunis: Nobel Winner Yunus: Microcredit Missionary- Businessweek
Final essays are due by midnight.
There are no incompletes given for this class.
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Course Policies & Guidelines
Attendance. I realize that many of you have intensely busy work and family obligations and, at times,
may need to travel or be absent. Regular participation will be expected.
Section. There is an optional section meeting that will be arranged. Details to follow.
Readings. You are expected to read the assigned reading in advance of the class in which it will be
discussed. You should also bring the relevant text to class.
Timeliness. Please arrive to class on time; and hand in your papers on time. There are no make-up pop
quizzes. And there are no incompletes given at the end of the course.
Assignments. You are expected to know about all of your assignments and hand them in on time.
Assignments are already in the syllabus; assignment guidelines, discussion questions and other messages
will be posted on the Harvard Extension Canvas site for Phil E-160 23590:
https://canvas.harvard.edu/courses/1791
Discussion Questions. Discussion questions for nearly every class will be posted on the course I-Site,
https://canvas.harvard.edu/courses/1791 and they will be the topics of the section meeting. It is
expected that you will come to section and class prepared to discuss the questions relevant to the given
class. The questions are intended as a study guide that directs your attention to key aspects of the
reading.
Contacting me. You are encouraged to contact our TF by email, [email protected] with
questions about course mechanics and papers. Also feel free to contact me by e-mail,
[email protected].
Meetings. You should feel free to meet with your TF. I can talk with you briefly and informally after
class. Additionally, should you wish a more private meeting, I will be happy to make an arrangement to
meet with you before or after class or an alternative time by prior arrangement.
Computers. Computers should be used for note taking in class. If it appears that you are using your
computer for email and other uses during class time, you may be asked to stop using your computer.
Food and Cell phones. Do not bring food to class. Water or coffee is acceptable. Turn off your cell
phones.
Academic Honesty.
You are responsible for learning the Harvard University rules that govern the use of sources for writing
your course papers. In order to avoid inadvertent plagiarism, you must consult The Harvard Guide to
Using Sources. Additionally, the Career and Academic Resource Center (CARC) and Writing Program
have developed an online tutorial that will help you avoid the most common misunderstandings and
mistakes related to the use of sources. Any student who plagiarizes will fail the course.
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