Theories of Justice (SY0041)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : SPS-3-SYJUST

What makes a society just? If what is required is justice for both a society as a whole and all the people in it, is justice even possible? What does achieving justice require both of a place and its inhabitants? As these questions have exercised classic and contemporary social theorists, the course will examine both the traditional answers and those suggested by innovative recent work that has revived interest in sociology and related disciplines in the theory and practice of justice. Besides exploring the concept, we will look at its relevance to various problems of the day such as racism and the welfare state and to significant current theoretical concerns such as the nature of the social self and the problem of happiness.

? Keywords : Justice, equality, affirmative action, the self

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Sociology, (School of Social and Political Science, Schedule J)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 1 hour(s) 50 minutes per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
12/01/2009	16:10	18:00	Room B.06, Chrystal Macmillan Building	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	16:10	18:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

1. To identify some of the requirements that any theory of justice must satisfy.

2. To explain the most important classical theory of justice.

3. To understand the most significant contemporary theories of justice.

4. To apply various theories to the issue of affirmative action.

5. To consider a possible alternative social virtue to justice.

6. To consider whether theories of justice can manage to be neutral.

7. To develop a viable theory of justice for our times.