PHIL 235: Global Justice and International Ethics

Number of Sections: 1 | Day and Time: M & F (17:10-18:50 ICT)

Course Description

What would constitute a fair distribution of resources globally? Who bears responsibility for alleviating severe poverty? Can wars ever be justified? Are borders morally defensible? How should colonial wrongdoings of the past and present be addressed? And what responsibilities do we have as individuals concerning the rapidly changing climate of our planet? These are just a few of the questions that political philosophers and ethicists have debated over the past fifty years in the burgeoning field of research about global justice and international ethics. This elective course introduces students to the main debates and current developments within this philosophical subdiscipline. For that purpose, the course is divided into two parts: the first weeks focus on exploring the theoretical foundations of philosophical reflections about global economic inequality, the sovereignty as well as interdependence of states in the current age of globalisation, and its implications for considerations of justice and ethics across borders. The second half then examines various applied topics in international and global affairs from the standpoint of normative theory. The topics which we are going to study include poverty and the global economy, territorial rights and migration, war and humanitarian interventions, natural resources, gender justice and international development, solidarity with distant others and climate action, as well as reparative duties for historical injustices and colonialism. Each week will feature two of these themes through the study of key texts, student presentations, and classroom activities. By the end of this course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of current normative theorising about the international and global sphere. Familiarity with ethics and political philosophy is beneficial, but no prior knowledge is necessary to enrol in this course.

Prerequisites: None