Syllabus for Economic Justice
Philosophy 330 and General Studies 330
Fall 2007
Dr. Nim Batchelor
Office: Philosophy and Religion
Pavilion
Office phone: 278-5698
Home phone: 229-7494
E-Mail: [email protected]
Office Hours: MWF 10:30-12:00;
MW 1:15-2:30; and TTH 12:30-2:30
or by appointment
Dr. Jim Barbour
Office: KoBC 124
Office phone: 278-5945
Home phone: 584-4228
E-Mail: [email protected]
Office Hours:
TEXTS:
Equality by Johnson (Hackett: 2000) 0-87220-480-4
Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach 0-553-34847-7
Economic Justice by Stephen Nathanson (Prentice Hall, 1998) 0-13-741844-2
The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time by Jeffrey D. Sachs (Penguin Press,
2005) 0-14-303658-0
Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, and
L. Hunter Lovins (Boston: Little and Brown & Co,; 1999) 0-316-35300-0
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND GOALS:
This course deals with the overlap between very important aspects of social life:
economics, philosophy, and politics. Politics is the process through which a group of
people decide how they will structure and conduct their lives together. Economics
provides us with insights into how to produce wealth and distribute the burdens and
benefits of society. It is characteristically concerned with questions like: What human
or natural resources are available?, How can we use them most efficiently?, and What is
the best way to coordinate or harmonize community goals and individual projects?
Justice is another fundamental concern. For example, since all humans are morally
equal, they should have an equal chance to live a good life. This is to say, a person
should not bear a heavier share of the burdens of society nor enjoy less of its benefits
due to factors like poorly constructed social institutions, prejudice or accidents of
nature. In addition to equality, justice also focuses on the value of individual freedom.
Throughout history, humans have structured their social relations in a wide variety of
ways. But each has failed in some dimension. Some societies have exhausted their
resources, some have generated vast inequalities, and others have been radically
oppressive. The perfect system has not yet been invented. Initially, at least, students
should see this course as an investigation of the limits that principles of economics and
principles of justice impose on political systems.
As a result of this course, students should be able to formulate judgments of political
policy that will exhibit an awareness of and sensitivity to economic and moral
principles. This course has both short-term and long-term goals. The short-term goals
include:
becoming familiar with the economic and moral aspects of a series of
contemporary social issues,
becoming familiar with a few basic notions of economic theory that are
essential to grasping the dynamics of certain policy choices,
becoming familiar with several fundamental moral categories and
concepts, especially the concept "justice", so as to foster an increased
sensitivity to the moral implications of policy choices, and
becoming able to write and publish a letter to the editor or guest editorial
that takes and defends a position on a contemporary issue of economic
justice.
As for long-term goals, it is our hope that this semester of study will provide
students with:
a more vivid sense of justice,
a greater appreciation for the interrelations between economic policy
choices and the impacts that those decisions have on the well-being of
individual citizens,
an enhanced sense of compassion for those who are disadvantaged or
oppressed by our social/political/economic system, and
a clear conception of the complex and important task of shaping social
institutions and governing their processes and activities so as to insure
liberty, equality, and justice.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
To achieve the goals of this course, it is vital that you attend every class. Given our
experience, we know that most students benefit from a grade related policy that provides
them with an incentive to attend class. On the other hand, we understand that circumstances
arise that preclude your attendance. Thus, we have adopted the following policy. Should
you miss no classes, we will add 3 points to your cumulative average. Missing one class,
results in an addition of 2 points, 2 classes and addition of 1, 3 classes no bonus/no cost.
However, for the fourth absence, we will deduct one point, and the penalty for each
additional absence will increase by one point per absence.
Absences
Points
0
+3
1
+2
2
+1
3
0
4
-1
5
-3
6
-6
7
-10
8
-15
9
-21
10
-28
Etc.
Etc.
The first three absences are intended to cover ordinary excuses (like one-day illnesses,
oversleeping, pre-fall break flight, registration conflicts, or the like). If longer periods of
absence are justified, you will need to see us personally to make appropriate
arrangements (our discretion is the absolute and last word on these matters).
CLASS PREPARATION READINGS/ASSIGNMENTS and QUIZZES:
You cannot fully participate or learn from our class meetings if you are not
properly prepared. Frequently this means that you will need to have read the
assignment for that day. To help you focus your readings or to verify that you
have done them, we will be posting occasional assignments or quizzes on the
Blackboard site. Quizzes will be only on the Fridays that are designated on the
course calendar. Short written assignments will be posted on the Blackboard
site when pedagogically appropriate. In either case they will be posted no later
than one full day prior to the class meeting when they are due. Your grade for
these activities will simply be the percentage of total available points that you
have earned. Thus, for example, if there are 200 points available and you earn
170 of them, you will have an 85 entered for this portion of your overall grade.
The assignments are due during the class period for which they are assigned. A
deduction will be made for late assignments. No homework assignment will be
accepted after it is over a week overdue. (Exceptions to that rule can be
negotiated if conditions warrant.) The default expectation is that you will hand
in your assignments during class. However, if the need arises, you can submit
your assignments via the Blackboard site. Collectively, these assignments and
quizzes will count for 10 percent of your overall grade.
PUBLIC COMMENTARY (letters to editors/editorials, etc.):
This course aims to enable students to engaging in an informed and useful way with
their political economy. One way that citizens do this is by sharing their views with one
another. Newspapers, television, and magazines provide citizens with a forum where
they can discuss issues with one another. We believe that the goals of this course will
be achieved more vividly if each student takes the time and effort to engage in such a
public forum. Thus, part of the course grade will be determined by writing either a
letter-to-the-editor or a guest editorial. Your letters or essays will actually be submitted
for publication. It is our hope and expectation that most members of the class will have
their work published. [You will be allowed to submit your work to only one
newspaper/TV station or magazine and that outlet must have a daily edition for papers
and television and at least monthly for magazines. Thus, for example, the Pendulum or
a weekly hometown newspaper will not count.] Letters to the editor are short letters
(typically between 250 and 350 words) and they are written in response to a letter or
news story that the paper has published in the recent past. By contrast, guest
editorials, either video for TV or written for newspapers and magazines are longer
(typically 8 to 10 paragraphs) and they contain original thoughts in the sense that they
do not have to be written in response to anything in particular. You need to compose
your letter, video, or essay, edit it carefully, type it, sign it, and put your phone number
on it. Then you have two choices:
1. You can physically mail the letter, video, or essay to the outlet by
addressing an envelope, putting your return address on it and the proper
postage. You should then seal it. Next you should turn this prepared
envelope in to one of your teachers along with an additional copy of your
letter. Or,
2. You can submit your item on-line via e-mail. If you choose this option,
you need to send a blind copy of your e-mail to either of your instructors.
When we get a copy of your submission, we will grade it on a 100-point scale. If
subsequently your letter or guest editorial gets published, we will adjust our
original grade by averaging it with a score of 100. To gain this additional benefit,
it is your responsibility to provide us with proof of publication (either the original
or a photo-copy) prior to the final exam date. This assignment will count for 10
percent of your overall course grade.
EXAMS:
Two exams have been scheduled during this semester. The exact format of these
exams has not yet been determined. They will likely be a mix of essay questions
and multiple choice questions. Taken collectively, these exams will count for 40
percent of your overall grade.
REACTION PAPERS:
As we work through the material in the first half of the course we will ask you to
engage the questions and the theoretical structures presented in such a way that
you will be able to lead the conversation (or at least contribute significantly to it).
Toward this end you are to write a short paper (5-7 pages) with respect to a
particular thinker covered on “your day” in the course. In these papers, we
expect you to show us, through your engagement with the content of the book
that you have read and understood what the author is saying. You will be placed
in a small group and assigned a particular sub-set of the material for a given
day’s assignment. Therefore, we will, in part, be evaluating your
paper/conversation with respect to what it reveals about how well you have
understood and engaged with the material. We also expect you to develop,
express, and defend your own perspective on the issues covered. These papers
will count for 15 percent of your overall course grade.
FINAL PAPER/PROJECT:
Each student will write a final paper on an appropriate topic of your choosing for
the semester. This project provides you with the opportunity to bring together
the many different strands of thought that we have explored during the semester.
The aim will be for you to demonstrate the ability to coherently apply the lessons
of the semester to a contemporary policy issue. Papers of excellence will: (1)
demonstrate a facility with basic economic principles, (2) demonstrate an ability
to work with basic principles of justice, and (3) demonstrate a subtle, coherent,
and fair-minded engagement with a contemporary social policy issue. This
paper/project will count for 20 percent of your overall course grade.
PARTICIPATION:
This component of your grade is reserved for our judgment. Students who participate in the
class exercises and discussions with vigor and thoughtfulness will do well on this
component of the course grade. We will also credit those who seem to have gotten a great
deal out of the class and the material that we cover. The Blackboard site also has a
discussion forum where class members can discuss topics related to the course. We will
monitor those discussions and frequent participants or high quality contributors will
certainly receive a higher participation score. This part of your grade is also a place where
we can take account of behavior or attitudes that are inconsistent with the aims and
effectiveness of this course. We will dock people who “free-ride” on the labor of others.
We want to be clear—if you merely attending class, never say a word, and do all of your
other work perfectly, you will receive a participation grade of 65 or 70. Scores in the 90’s
will only go to those who actively and constructively participate in class discussions. This
component will count for 10 percent of your final grade.
GRADING POLICY:
Summarizing the above, your final course grade will be compiled in accordance
with the following outline:
Class Preparation Assignments and quizzes
15 %
Exams
30 %
Letter or Editorial
10 %
Reaction Papers
15 %
Participation
10 %
Final Paper
20 %
Since we do not allow extra credit projects, you should concentrate your attention on
performing to your highest ability on the assignments listed above. Elon operates under
a +/- grading system. Each 10 point range (eg. 80 - 89) will be treated in the following
way: 80 to 83 will receive a B-, 84 to 86 a B, and 87 to 89 a B+. All of your course work
will be governed by the Academic Honor Code;--see:
http://www.elon.edu/students/handbook/acahoncode.asp.
Elon provides accommodations to students who have documentation of a disability and
work through Disabilities Services to arrange accommodations. Contact Priscilla Lipe
in Duke 108. Once you’ve established eligibility, please see either of us during our
office hours so that we can talk about your disability and the accommodations you will
be using
COURSE CALENDAR
Meeting Date
Wed. Aug. 29:
Fri. Aug. 31:
Mon. Sept. 3:
Wed. Sept. 5:
Fri. Sept. 7:
Mon. Sept. 10:
Wed. Sept. 12:
Fri. Sept. 14:
Mon. Sept. 17:
Wed. Sept. 19:
Fri. Sept. 21:
Mon. Sept. 24:
Wed. Sept. 26:
Fri. Sept. 28:
Mon. Oct. 1:
Wed. Oct. 3:
Fri. Oct. 5:
Mon. Oct. 8:
Wed. Oct. 10:
Fri. Oct. 12:
Mon. Oct. 15:
Wed. Oct. 17:
Fri. Oct. 19:
Mon. Oct. 22:
Reading
Introductory Discussion
Equality—Hobbes pp.25-31 and Rousseau
pp.32-56
Economic Justice pp. 1-17
Economic Justice pp. 18-27
Equality—Marx pp. 83-89 and supplements
Bellamy
Bellamy
Economic
Economic
Economic
Economic
Justice
Justice
Justice
Justice
pp.
pp.
pp.
pp.
28-40
41-51
52-67
68-80
Turn in
First Quiz
Second Quiz and attend
talk by Eric Henry,
Yeager, 7:30 p.m.
Third Quiz
First Exam
Equality—Tawney pp. 90-106
Rawls exercise
Equality—Rawls pp. 124-145 Economic
Justice pp. 81-99
Rawls continued
Economic Justice pp. 100-137 Jeannie Gates
Robinson
Equality—von Hayek pp. 107-123
Equality—Nozick pp. 146-159
Equality—Walzer pp. 208-233
Fall Break
Michael Moore’s Sicko
Equality—Sen pp. 160-177
Equality —Dworkin pp. 178-207
Fourth Quiz
Letters/video due
Fifth Quiz
Wed. Oct. 24:
Fri. Oct. 26:
Mon. Oct. 29:
Wed. Oct. 31:
Fri. Nov. 2:
Mon. Nov. 5:
Wed. Nov. 7:
Fri. Nov. 9:
Mon. Nov. 12:
Wed. Nov. 14:
Fri. Nov. 16:
Mon. Nov. 19:
Wed. Nov. 21:
Fri. Nov. 23:
Mon. Nov. 26:
Wed. Nov. 28:
Fri. Nov.30:
Mon. Dec. 3:
Wed. Dec. 5:
Thur. Dec. 6:
Wed. Dec. 12:
Equality—Young pp. 243-265
Second Exam
Sachs pp. xv-25
Sachs pp. 26-73
Sachs pp. 74-89
Sachs pp. 90-108 Boliva
Sachs pp. 109-130 Poland
Sachs pp. 131-147 Russia
Sachs pp. 148-169 China
Sachs pp. 170-187 India
Sachs pp. 188-209 Africa
Sachs pp. 210-243 UN & On the ground
Sachs pp. 244-287 The investment needed &
Global Compact
Sachs pp. 288-328 Can the rich Afford it? & Myths
Sachs pp. 329-368 Why we should do it & Our
Generation’s Challenge
Sixth Quiz
Seventh Quiz
Eighth Quiz
Ecotopia
Thanksgiving Break
Thanksgiving Break
Ecotopia
Natural Capitalism Eric Henry
Natural Capitalism
Natural Capitalism
Natural Capitalism
Reading Day
Final Exam 8:30-11:30
Ninth Quiz