Course: Social Justice

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Course title Social Justice
Course code KFHS/K431
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Master
Year of study 1
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Šmíd Jan, PhDr. Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
Main topics: 1. Introduction: emergence of the concept ?social justice? and its sense 2.-3. Different concepts of equality: formal equality, equality of opportunity and equality of outcome 4. Distribution according to needs and Karl Marx 5.-6. John Rawls and his theory of justice 7. Distribution according to rights and F. A. Hayek 8. R. Nozick and libertarianism 9.-10. Distribution according to deserts and A. MacIntyre 11. Different concepts of ?welfare? 12.-13. In praise of welfare or its reform?

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified, unspecified, unspecified
Learning outcomes
The student will be acquinted with different theories of a morally defensible distribution of benefits or rewards in society. Social justice is therefore about 'who should get what'. One can identify a number of contrasting principles of justice. These are 'to each according to his needs', 'to each according to his rights' and 'to each according to his deserts'. This issue is discussed in relation to its discussion in contemporary American political philosophy.
Student will acquire following competences: - ability to judge critically different theories of social justice - will be able to write an informed essay about the social justice
Prerequisites
None

Assessment methods and criteria
unspecified
A written test certifying a basic overview of the issue + seminar thesis.
Recommended literature
  • Ballestrem, K. Politická filosofie 20. století. Praha, 1993.
  • Hayek, F. A. Právo, zákonodárství a svoboda. Praha, 1994.
  • Kis, J. Současná politická filosofie. Praha, 1997.
  • MacIntyre. Ztráta ctnosti. Praha, 2004.
  • Marx, K. Kritika Gothajského programu. Praha, 1974.
  • Miller, D. Principles of Social Justice. Cambridge, 2001.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester