Syllabus for Economic JusticePhilosophy 330 and GST 330Fall 2001

Dr. Nim Batchelor
Office: 313 Carlton
Office phone: 278-5698
Home phone: 229-7494
E-Mail:
Office Hours:
MWF 10:40 - 12:00
TTh 10:00 - 11:30
or by appointment / / Dr. Jim Barbour
Office: Long 209-E
Office phone: 278-5945
Home phone: 584-4228
E-Mail:
Office Hours:
MW 10:00 - 12:00 and 1:30 - 2:30
TTh 10:00 - 12:00
F all day by appointment or drop-in

TEXTS:

  • Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy
  • Justice and Economic Distribution 2nd Edition by John Arthur and William H. Shaw

SUGGESTED TEXTS

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 relates to some of the most basic aspects of any community. For example, it involves 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. Which is to say, a person should not bear a heavier share of the burdens of society nor enjoy less of the benefits because of things like 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 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 imposed on the design and justification of political systems by principles of economics and principles of justice.
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 involve the student becoming familiar with:

  • the economic and moral aspects of a series of contemporary social issues.
  • a few basic notions of economic theory which are essential to grasping the dynamics of certain policy choices.
  • several fundamental moral categories and concepts, especially the concept "justice", so as to foster an increased sensitivity to the moral implications of policy choices.

As for long-term goals, it is our hope that this semester of study will allow students to emerge 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 oppressed by our social/political/economic system.
  • an intensified concern for the ecosystem, our national resources and the issue of sustainable economic systems.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Each student should make a serious COMMITMENT to attending each and every class session. To help you sustain that commitment, we will permit two absences without penalty. After that, your final course average will be reduced by two points for each additional absence. There is no lower limit to the application of this policy.

CLASS PREPARATION ASSIGNMENTS:

Assignments will be posted on the course web site. These assignments are designed to help students prepare for the class discussion or activities. The number grade that you will earn for this portion of the course will simply be the percentage of total available points that you have earned. Thus, for example, if you earn 170 of the 200 available points, you will have an 85 entered for this portion of your overall grade. These assignments are due during the class period for which they are assigned. There will be a twenty percent per calendar day penalty for assignments handed in late. Zero is the lower bound for this penalty. These assignments can be submitted as e-mail attachments. Collectively, they will count for 25 percent of your overall grade.

TAKE-HOME EXAMS:

At several points during the semester, we will post a set of exam questions. You will be required to write short essays in response to those questions. These take-home exams will count for 40 percent of your overall grade.

FINAL PAPER/PROJECT:

Each student will write a final paper for the semester. A list of project topics will be provided. This project will provide students with the opportunity to bring together the many different strands of thought that we have explored during the semester. The aim will be for each student 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 25 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 assessment. We will also try to reward those who seem to have really gotten a great deal out of the class and the material that we cover. It is also a place to account for behavior or attitudes that are inconsistent with the aims and effectiveness of our collective efforts. This component will count for 10 percent of you final grade.

GRADING POLICY:

Summarizing the above, your final course grade will be compiled in accordance with the following outline:

Class Preparation Assignments / 25 %
Take-home Exams / 40 %
Final Paper / 25 %
Participation / 10 %

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+.

COURSE CALENDAR

Wed. Aug. 27:

Introductory Discussion

Fri. Aug. 29:

Mon. Sept. 1:

Wed. Sept. 3:

Fri. Sept. 5:

Mon. Sept. 8:

Wed. Sept. 10:

Fri. Sept. 12:

Mon. Sept. 15:

Wed. Sept. 17:

Fri. Sept. 19:

Mon. Sept. 22:

Wed. Sept. 24:

Fri. Sept. 26:

Mon. Sept. 29:

Wed. Oct. 1:

Fri. Oct. 3:

Mon. Oct. 6:

Wed. Oct. 8:

Fri. Oct. 10:

Mon. Oct. 13:

Fall Break

Wed. Oct. 15:

Fri. Oct. 17:

Mon. Oct. 20:

Wed. Oct. 22:

Fri. Oct. 24:

Mon. Oct. 27:

Wed. Oct. 29:

Fri. Oct. 31:

Mon. Nov. 3:

Wed. Nov. 5:

Fri. Nov. 7:

Mon. Nov. 10:

Wed. Nov. 12:

Fri. Nov. 14:

Mon. Nov. 17:

Wed. Nov. 19:

Fri. Nov. 21:

Mon. Nov. 24:

Wed. Nov. 26:

Thanksgiving Break

Fri. Nov. 28:

Thanksgiving Break

Mon. Dec. 1:

Wed. Dec. 3:

Fri. Dec. 5:

Reading Day

Tues. Dec. 9:

Final Exam 11:30 – 2:30

Tues. Aug. 28:
Introductory Discussion
Thur. Aug. 30
Read Bellamy pp.1-36
Tues. Sept. 4
Read Bellamy pp.36-78
Thur. Sept. 6
Read Bellamy pp.78-119
Tues. Sept. 11
Read Bellamy pp.119-165
Thur. Sept. 13
****First Take-home Exam Due****
Go see Jacob Hornberger McCrary Theater 7:30 pm
Tues. Sept.18
Read Friedman pp. vi-36
Thur. Sept. 20
Read Friedman pp.37-74
Tues. Sept. 25
Read Friedman pp.75-107
Thur. Sept. 27
Read Friedman pp.108-136
Tues. Oct. 2
Discussion related to Lech Walesa's visit
Thur. Oct. 4
Read Friedman pp.137-176
Tues. Oct. 9
Read Friedman pp.177-202
Thur. Oct. 11
****Second Take-home Exam Due****
Tues. Oct. 16
Fall Break
Thur. Oct. 18
Read Introduction pp. vii-12
Tues. Oct. 23
Read Rawls pp. 13-35
Thur. Oct. 25
Read Rawls pp. 35-60
Tues. Oct. 30
Read Nozick pp. 61-63 & pp. 64-84
Thur. Nov. 1
Read Nozick pp. 84-102
Tues. Nov. 6
Read J.J.C. Smart pp. 103-105,106-117
Thur. Nov. 8
Read R.M. Hare pp. 118-132
Tues. Nov. 13
****Third Take-home Exam Due****
Thur. Nov. 15
Directed readings, discussions, speakers, and independent research--TBA
Tues. Nov. 20
Directed readings, discussions, speakers, and independent research--TBA
Thur. Nov. 22
Thanksgiving Holiday
Tues. Nov. 27
Directed readings, discussions, speakers, and independent research--TBA
Thur. Nov. 29
Directed readings, discussions, speakers, and independent research--TBA
Tues. Dec. 4
Directed readings, discussions, speakers, and independent research--TBA
Thur. Dec. 6
Directed readings, discussions, speakers, and independent research--TBA
Fri. Dec. 7
Reading Day
Tues. Dec. 11
Final exam -- 8:00 am -- 11:00 am