17.01  Justice

This course explores three fundamental questions about the idea of a just society and the place of the values of liberty and equality in such a society:

1. Which liberties must a just society protect? Liberty of expression? Sexual liberty? Economic liberty? Political liberty?

2. What sorts of equality should a just society ensure? Equality of opportunity? Of economic outcome? Political equality? Equality for different religious and cultural groups?

3. Can a society ensure both liberty and equality? Or are these opposing political values?

We will pursue these questions by examining answers to them provided by three contemporary theories of justice: utilitarianism, libertarianism, and egalitarian liberalism. To assess the strengths and weaknesses of these theories, we will discuss their implications for some topics of ongoing political controversy that exemplify our three fundamental questions about liberty and equality: the enforcement of sexual morality, financing schools and elections, regulating labor markets, affirmative action, and abortion. We will conclude by examining issues of global justice and human rights.