Justice in a democratic society requires that we respect and promote values like equality and freedom. Yet, it is not at all clear what a commitment to these values really means and how we can best express them. One does not have to look very far to see the vast inequalities and restrictions on freedom that characterize our shared life. This course is designed to explore questions surrounding distributive justice in a democratic society such as: What does a commitment to the fundamental equality of all citizens entail? When are restrictions on our freedom justified? What counts as a fair or just distribution of resources? Does the distribution of wealth and resources have an impact on people’s ability to participate in the political community? The overall goal of this course is to introduce students to some aspects of social and economic justice and to encourage critical thinking about these issues. Welcome to the class.
