Philosophy &Literature: What Is Justice?

Philosophy &Literature: What is Justice?

Philosophy 3750

Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays, FASB 101,12:55pm - 1:45pm

Spring 2018

Instructor: Erin Beeghly Email: .

Office Hours—Wednesdays 2:00 - 3:-00pm & by appointment

Office—CTIHB 419

Course Description: What is justice? Where do the mandates of justice come from and why do they have authority over us? How do we know what is just? When and how should wrongdoers be punished? Is it better to be just than unjust? Philosophers throughout history have asked these questions. Though they often disagree wildly, their exploration of the questions tends to take a similar form. An author articulates a view, presents objections to that view, then defends the view. Fiction, poetry, and autobiography work differently. Pairing pieces of literature with philosophical texts, we will examine how different kinds of writers explore questions about justice, the answers that they offer us (if any), and the extent to which literature and philosophy can be brought into conversation. We will pay special attention to the way in which gender, social class, race, and ethnicity feature (or fail to feature) in different accounts of a just society.

Theoretical goals:

Students will understand…

different ways of conceptualizing justice
historical variation in questions of justice.
how literature enhances, as well as provides challenges to philosophical conceptions of justice.
understand the Euthyphro dilemma, Marx’s theory of justice, objections to racial inequality, as well as arguments for racial integration as a political ideal.
understand the way in which different visions of a just society pay attention (or fail to pay attention) to gender, social class, race, and ethnicity.

Practical goals:

Students will improve their ability…

to read and interpret philosophical & literary texts.
to recognize and evaluate arguments
to communicate ideas clearly in speech and writing
to engage respectfully with conflicting points of view

Course Requirements:

Class participation: 74points (2 X 37)
Weekly journal entries: 80 points (5 X 16)
Two papers (5 pages): 100 points (50 X 2)
In-class presentation: 50 points (50 X 1)

Total: 304 points

GRADING SCALE

A+ (98% and up)B- (82%-80%)

A (97%-95%)C+ (79%-78%)

A- (94%-90%)C (77%-75%)

B+ (89%-88%)C- (74%-70%)

B (87-85%)D+ (69%-68%)

The Details:

Participation:

Each day, your participation is worth 2 points. If you ask questionseach day during class or participate in reading passages aloud or significantly contribute to discussion, you receive all 2 points. If you do not contribute, you receive 0 points. I assure you that there are no stupid questions! If you are wondering about something, someone else is likely too. The class typically has lively discussions. Please raise your hand, and I will call on you.
You can miss two classes without penalty. You do not receive extra credit if you show up for all classes. The first two times you are absent, I will automatically give you credit for participation for those days and will note it on your participation score comments. If you’ve run out of "free" excused absences, please do get in touch with me and let me know why you’re missing class. I will excuse additional absences for sickness, family emergencies, etc.

Weekly journal entries:

Each week, you must write at least one journal entry (some weeks two journal entries are due) and submit it via Canvas. Entries in “Discussions” are public. You are also (sometimes) required to read at least one other student’s journal entry and write a brief comment on it.
Submission requirements: as a general rule, all journal entries are due on 12pm (noon) before class starts.Your comment on someone else’s journal entry can be made after the initial submission period but before class begins. We can see how this works in practice and adjust the timing if necessary.
Grading: each journal entry is worth 5 points. If you submit a journal entry and write a response to someone, you will receive at least 4.5 points (A-), so long as you put some effort into it. Writing one sentence or question does not count as sufficient effort! Journal entries should be at least one paragraph and at most three or four paragraphs. Comments on other people’s entries can be a few sentences up to a few paragraphs. Excellent journal entries will receive a grade of A (4.75) or A+ (5).
You can choose to opt out of two journal entries without penalty. You pick which ones. You will ultimately do 15/17. Only 15 are required, and you don’t get extra credit for doing extra entries.
The point of the journal entries is to prepare you for class discussion and to get some of your thoughts down about the reading in a preliminary way. The entries can also be a way to build conversation between students.
If there is a special topic on which I would like you to write, I will announce it and post it on Canvas. Most weeks I give you a specific topic on which to write.DO NOT SUBMIT A PLOT SUMMARY.

Two papers:

There are two 5-page, double-spaced papers due for the class.
Topics & instructions for the papers will be announced on the date specified on the syllabus. All due dates are marked on the syllabus.
Submission requirements: all papers are due via Canvas and can be submitted in the “Assignments” section of the course website. All papers are graded anonymously and are run through the Turn-It-In website. Never put your name on your paper. SID only, please.
Grading: all papers are worth 50 points and will receive written comments.
Note: we will also have an in-class writing workshop, where you will be able to workshop a draft of your papers. I also hold special office hours in advance of each paper’s due date, during which I read drafts of student papers. I do not read drafts over email.I will announce the office hours in class and on Canvas. Appointments for the special office hours are encouraged. Appointments are typically 10-15 minutes, depending on the number of students.
Late papers are not accepted, save for exceptional situations. Get in touch with me as soon as possible if you believe that you will have to turn in a paper late.
There are no rewrites for the papers.

In-class Presentation:

There is one in-class presentation required for this course.
Presenters are required to prepare a presentation to discuss that week’s materials (aided by presentation questions, which I provide) and will be responsible for running class for that day.
In addition to the presentation, groups will be responsible for answering a list of pre-set questions and submitting those for credit.
Presentations are worth fifty points.
Detailed instructions will be given closer to the date in class & via Canvas.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What if I Have Questions About The Comments on My Papers or My Grade? I am happy to discuss the grades for your papers or to clarify your written comments. Just get in touch with me, and I will set up an appointment with you. I will, as a matter of policy, wait 24 hours until after the comments and grades to set up appointments. Grades are almost never changed, but we do encourage people to meet with us to get a better sense of how they can improve.

What if I Want to Challenge My Grade on a Paper? I am very conscientious about grading student work, and I very rarely make mistakes. However, if you believe that there is an error in your grade, you should make an appointment with me to review your paper. I will explain the grade. If you still believe that the paper has not been graded correctly, you must write a letter explaining your reasons for believing that your paper has not been accurately graded and email it to me, as well as to the philosophy department chair, Stephen Downes. He will find a faculty member to re-grade the paper. The grade can go up or down.

Can I Check My Grades Via Canvas? Your grades are always accessible via Canvas.

When Is Reading for the Class Due? You should always do the assigned reading before you come to class.

Should I Bring My Books to Class? YES! Always.

Class Policies:

Plagiarism, Cheating, and Misrepresentation of One’s Work: Anyone that plagiarizes, cheats, or misrepresents their work will automatically the assignment and, possibly, the course. It is your responsibility to know what counts as plagiarism, cheating, and misrepresentation. Please familiarize yourself with relevant standards here: .

Electronics Policy: Please turn off your cellphones in class. Also, no laptops are permitted in class. Seriously!

Email Policy: I am available by email to answer course-related questions. Please give me at least 24 hours to respond to your message. Note that I do not answer philosophical questions about course material over email! Philosophical questions are better addressed in person during office hours and in class. If you have a substantive question about lecture, please come see me in person! If it helps you to write me with your question in advance, that’s fine! Know that I cannot respond to the question over email but I will read it carefully, and we can talk about it in person or, if appropriate, raise the question for the class as a whole to discuss.

Respect in the Classroom: I aim to make the classroom a place where people with conflicting points of view can respectfully engage with one another. I require that people are polite. Raise your hand when you have a question. No interrupting other students or the professor. Be aware of the time that you spend talking. No one student or group of students should be dominating discussion.

Learning Styles: Your wellbeing and success in this course are important to me. I recognize that there are *multiple* ways to learn and that this multiplicity should be acknowledged in the design and structure of university courses and the evaluation of their participants. Thus, I encourage students registered in the course to discuss their learning styles and comprehension requirements with me during my office hours or, if necessary, at another arranged time. Every student is entitled to a meaningful and stimulating learning experience.

Accommodations: The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 801.581.5020 (V/TDD). CDS will work with you and the professor to make arrangements for accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services.

Food: No messy/smelly food in class, please! Eat before or after class.

Flexibility of the Syllabus: The syllabus is subject to change! I will announce changes in lecture and in the course website.

Books to Purchase (Required):The Oresteia, Aeschylus

A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens

The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison

**Make sure you buy the correct version of the texts! These are all available at the campus bookstore.

All other readings are available on the course website.

LECTURE AND READING SCHEDULE

Monday, January 8Course introduction

Wednesday, January 10What is the point of philosophy?

Required before class:

Graham Priest, “What is Philosophy?”

Due before class:

Journal Entry 1

Friday, January 12What is the point of philosophy?

Required before class:

Pierre Hadot, Philosophy as a Way of Life, Excerpt.
Robert Solomon, The Joys of Philosophy, Excerpt.

Monday, January 15NO CLASS—MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY

1. JUSTICE IN ANCIENT GREECE

Wednesday, January 17What is the point of fiction, poetry, and autobiography?

Required before class (22 pages):

Rebecca Solnit, A Field Guide to Getting Lost, 3-25.
Toni Morrison, Online interview

Due before class:

Journal Entry 2

Friday, January 19Introduction to Aeschylus

Required before class:

Edith Hall, Introducing the Ancient Greeks, 135-140.
Josiah Ober, Noami Norman, and Mark Carnes, The Threshold of Democracy: Athens in 403 BCE, 32-35, 44-51.
Biographical sketch of Aeschylus.

Monday, January 22Justice and injustice in Ancient Greek plays: Aeschylus

Required before class (18 pages):

Aeschylus, Agamemnon, p. 44-61 (Lines 1-553)

Due before class:

Journal entry 3

Wednesday, January 24Justice and Injustice in Ancient Greek plays: Aeschylus

Required before class (18 pages):

Aeschylus, Agamemnon, p. 61-79 (Lines 557-1174)

Friday, January 26Justice and Injustice in Ancient Greek plays: Aeschylus

Required before class (23 pages):

Aeschylus, Agamemnon, p. 79-103 (Lines 1175-end)

Due before class:

Journal entry 4

Monday, January 29NO CLASS: READ AT HOME DAY

Required before class (22 pages):

Aeschylus, The Libation Bearers, p. 106-128, (Lines 1-668)

Wednesday, January 31NO CLASS: READ AT HOME DAY

Required reading (18 pages)

Aeschylus, The Libation Bearers, 128-146 (Lines 669-end)
Alan Shapiro & Peter Burian, “Introduction,”The Complete Aeschylus p. 3-17.

Due afterclass:

Journal entry 5

Friday, February 2Justice and injustice in Ancient Greek plays: Aeschylus

Required before class (16 pages):

Aeschylus, The Eumenides, p. 148-164 (Lines 1-479)

Monday, February 5Justice and injustice in Ancient Greek plays: Aeschylus

Required before class (44 pages):

Aeschylus, The Eumenides, p. 164-188 (Lines 480 to end)
Alan Shapiro & Peter Burian “Introduction,” The Complete Aeschylus, p.17-37

Due before class:

Journal entry 6

Wednesday, February 7Justice and injustice in Ancient Greek philosophy: Plato

Required before class:

Plato, Euthyphro

Friday, February 9Justice and injustice in Ancient Greek philosophy: Plato

Required before class:

Plato, Euthyphro

Due before class:

Journal entry 7

Monday, February 12Justice and injustice in Ancient Greek philosophy: Plato

Required before class:

Plato’s Crito

Due before class:

Journal entry 8

Wednesday, February 14Justice and injustice in Ancient Greek philosophy: Plato

Required before class:

Plato’s Republic, Excerpt

Friday, February 16WRITING WORKSHOP

Monday, February 19NO CLASS—President’s Day

SECTION 2: JUSTICE IN 18th and 19th Century Europe

Wednesday, February 21Justice and social equality: Rousseau

Required before class:

J.J. Rousseau, The Social Contract, Excerpt

Due before class:

Paper 1

Friday, February 23Justice and injustice in Victorian fiction: Dickens

Required before class (39 pages):

Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 1-39.

Due before class:

Journal entry 9

Monday, February 26Justice and injustice in Victorian fiction: Dickens

Required before class (40 pages):

Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 40 - 80

Wednesday, February 28Justice and injustice in Victorian fiction: Dickens

Required before class (36 pages):

Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 81 - 117

Due before class:

Journal entry 10

Friday, March 2Justice and injustice in Victorian fiction: Dickens

Required before class (43 pages):

Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 118 -161

Monday, March 5Justice and injustice in Victorian fiction: Dickens

Required before class (42 pages):

Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 162 - 196.

Due before class:

Journal entry 11

Wednesday, March 7NO CLASS: READ AT HOME DAY

Required before class(42 pages)

Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 197-239

Friday, March 9Justice and injustice in Victorian fiction: Dickens

Required before class (101 pages):

Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 240 - 341

Due before class:

Journal entry 12

Monday, March 12Justice and injustice in Victorian fiction: Dickens

Required before class (62 pages):

Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 342– 404

Due before class:

Journal entry 13

Wednesday, March 14Justice and social class: Marx’s view of justice

Required before class:

Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto, sections 1 & 2

Friday, March 16Justice and social class: Marx’s view of justice

Required before class:

Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto, sections 3 & 4

Due before class:

Journal entry 14

Monday, March 19NO CLASS—Spring Break

Wednesday, March 21NO CLASS—Spring Break

Friday, March 23NO CLASS—Spring Break

Monday, March 26WRITING WORKSHOP

Wednesday, March 28NO CLASS—Your Revision Time

SECTION 4: JUSTICE IN THE 20TH AND 21st CENTURY US

Friday, March 30Racial justice & injustice in fiction: Morrison

Required before class:

Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye, p. 1-37
The Baby Doll Test Video
Brief Biography of Kenneth & Mamie Clark

Due before class:

Paper 2

Monday, April 2Racial justice & injustice in fiction: Morrison

Required before class:

Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye, p. 38-93
Read forward of The Bluest Eye
Watch Morrison interview again

Wednesday, April 4Racial justice & injustice in fiction: Morrison

Required before class:

Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye, p. 97-132

Friday, April 6Racial justice & injustice in fiction: Morrison

Required before class:

Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye, 132-206

Due before class:

Journal entry 15

Monday, April 9Racial justice & injustice in 21st century philosophy: Taylor

Required before class:

Paul C. Taylor, “Malcom’s Conk & Danto’s Colors, or, Four Logical Petitions Concerning Race, Beauty, and Aesthetics”

Wednesday, April 11Racial justice & injustice in 21st century philosophy: Tate Required before class:

Anne Tate, “‘Beauty Comes From Within’ Or Does It?”

Due before class:

Journal entry 16

Friday, April 13Racial justice and injustice in 21st century philosophy:

Anderson

Required before class:

Elizabeth Anderson, The Imperative of Integration,

Ch. 1 & 2, Excerpt

Monday, April 16Racial justice and injustice in 21st century philosophy: Anderson

Required before class:

Elizabeth Anderson, The Imperative of Integration, Ch. 6.

Due before class:

Journal entry 17

Wednesday, April 18Racial justice & injustice in 20th century autobiography: Shakur

Required before class:

Assata Shakur, Assata: An Autobiography, Excerpt

Friday, April 20Racial justice & injustice in 21st century poetry: Rankine

Required before class

Claudia Rankine, Citizen, Excerpt

Monday, April 23In-class reflection exercise