Global Justice
(ETHR 1002)
Professor: John Schroeder
Office Hours: Mon/Tue 2-4pm (and by appointment)
e-mail: jwschroeder99@gmail.com
Teaching Assistant: Ayoola White
e-mail: ayoola.white@auw.bd.edu
Course website: http://faculty.smcm.edu/jwschroeder/GlobalJustice/Home.html
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides an overview to the major theories and problems of global justice. It will examine
Classical and contemporary views of justice with an international focus and from a variety of Asian and
Western perspectives, and will deal with issues relating to human rights and nationalism, globalization,
distributive justice and poverty, environmental destruction, and violence against women, children, and
minorities. The beginning sections of the course will examine general theories of justice by thinkers such as
Plato, Kant. J.S. Mill, the Buddha and Chuang Tzu, The remaining sections of the course will apply these
theories to particular problems and issues in the modern world. Students in the course will learn to critically
evaluate the ethical dimensions of global justice that underlie most contemporary debates in international
politics, and will have the opportunity to develop their own views and assessments of global justice.
The course is both textually based and discussion oriented, which means you need to read the assignments
carefully and come to class prepared to share your thoughts and to engage others in a thoughtful, critical, and
constructive discussion on the course readings and topics. The course also requires a good deal of writing (inclass, reading reflections, and take-home essays) and it is therefore important to put significant time and
energy into crafting excellent essays. Ayoola and I will make ourselves available to assist you with your
writing, proofreading, or editing. No matter where you find yourself in the writing process--brainstorming,
developing an argument, or revising a final draft—don’t hesitate to share your ideas with us.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Class attendance and participation. For the purpose of this class, attendance and participation are basically
the same, which means lack of preparation for the class is the same as having missed the class. This is to
ensure that the time we spend together in the class is lively, thoughtful, focused, and interesting. (Worth
15% of course grade.)
2 Writing assignments and reflections on the readings. Each day you will be asked to submit a 1-2 page
critical reflection on the day's readings. These are not just summaries of the readings but critical
reflections that ask questions, raise problems, stimulate your imagination, or lead to further thoughts
and questions.
The reflections should follow the following format: 1. Begin by asking a question about a central topic
or theme about the article or text that you have read; 2. Try to answer your question by referring back to
a particular passage or idea in the text that relates to your question; and 3. Evaluate whether you think
the passage or text adequately answers your question. In the end, you should ask yourself if your
question is actually a good, critical question—that is, does it raise concerns directly related to the central
theme or problem of the reading; does it reveal a weakness in the argument; will your question lead to
further class discussion? (Worth 10% of course grade.)
3. One in-class exam: This exam will test your knowledge and comprehension of the course readings during
the first sections of the course. The exam will be composed of term identification and 3/5 questions
relating to the readings and will be an in-class writing exam. (Worth 15% of course grade.)
4. One (5 page) essay. This take-home essay is a critical reflections on a topic assigned in class. I will spend
time in class telling you what I consider “good” and “excellent” essays, and you will hopefully leave this
class with a sense of having developed your own style of writing and your own writing “voice.” (Worth
20% of course grade.)
5. One (9-10 page) final essay. This paper will be your final signature to the class and should reveal your
finest piece of writing during this course. (Worth 25% of course grade.)
6. One in-class presentation: Each student is responsible for leading the class in a 15-minute discussion on
the assigned reading for the day. The presentations will take place throughout the duration of the semester,
and will be graded according to: 1. Content: your knowledge of the material, command of the subject, etc.
(Did you do the reading carefully? Did you engage in a serious and thoughtful reflection on the material?
Did you do background reading as well?) And 2. Form: how well you present your knowledge to the class
(Did you put time and energy into thinking about how to best execute your presentation? Did you ask
interesting questions? Did you facilitate a thoughtful, focused discussion?) (Worth 15% of course grade.)
READING SCHEDULE
8/26
Introductions, Greetings, and Course Outline
8/28
Christina H. Sommers: “Teaching the Virtues”
9/2
Plato:
The Republic
9/4
Plato:
The Republic
9/9
Plato:
The Republic
9/11
Plato:
The Republic
9/16
Watson
Chuang Tzu: Chapter 1
9/18
Watson
Chuang Tzu: Chapter 2
9/23
Watson
Chuang Tzu: Chapter 3
9/25
Watson
Chuang Tzu: Chapter 4
9/30
Workshop: “Thinking Critically about Plato, Chuang Tzu, and Justice”
10/2
Draft of Essay 1 due in Class
10/7
1st Discourse, Questions Not Tending to Edification, Mustard Seed
10/9-16
Fall Break
10/21
Angulimala Sutta
11/23
Mahatma Gandhi
10/28
Exam
Selections
Comparative Justice and Human Rights
10/30
Huaiyu Wang:
Daniel Bell:
“The Way of the Heart: Mencius’ Understanding of Justice”
“Reconciling Socialism and Confucianism? Reviving Tradition in China”
11/4
Daniel Bell:
Dallmayr:
“The East Asian Challenge to Human Rights”
“Asian Values and Global Human Rights”
Poverty, Development, and Globalization
11/6
David Loy:
“Religion and the Market”
“Buddhism and Poverty”
11/11
Peter Singer:
“Famine, Affluence, and Morality”
11/13
Amartya Sen:
“Violence, Identity, and Poverty”
11/18
Pogge:
“Real World Justice”
Gender and Sexuality
11/20
Maryam Khalid:
“Gender and the War on the Terror”
11/25
Allison Jaggar:
“Saving Amina: Global Justice for Women and Intercultural Dialogue”
11/27
R. Weitzer:
Jo Doezema:
“The Social Construction of Sex Trafficking: Ideology and Institutionalization”
“Now You See Her, Now You Don’t: Sex Workers at the UN Trafficking Negotiations”
12/2-12
Student Essay Tutorials
Course Readings: Downloadable from the Course Website
1. Christina H. Sommers:
2.Thomas Pogge
3. Plato:
4. Watson (trans):
5. Kant & Mill:
6. Buddhist Sutta:
7. Buddhist Sutta:
8. Buddhist Sutta:
9. Buddhist Sutta:
10. Gandhi:
11. Huaiyu Wang:
12. Daniel Bell:
13. Daniel Bell:
14. Dallmayr:
15. David Loy:
16. Andrew Revkin:
17. Peter Singer:
18. Amartya Sen:
19. Thomas: Pogge:
20. David Loy:
21. Maryam Khalid:
22. Allison Jaggar:
23. R. Weitzer:
24. Jo Doezema:
“Teaching the Virtues”
“Real World Justice”
The Republic (Selections)
Chuang Tzu (Selections)
(Selections)
“Setting the Wheel in Motion”
Malankyaputta & Vaccha Suttas
“Kisa Gotami and the Parable of the Mustard Seed”
“Angulimala”
(Selections)
“The Way of the Heart: Mencius’ Understanding of Justice”
“Reconciling Socialism and Confucianism? Reviving Tradition in China”
“The East Asian Challenge to Human Rights”
“Asian Values and Global Human Rights”
“Buddhism and Poverty”
“A New Measure of Well-Being From a Happy Little Kingdom”
“Famine, Affluence, and Morality”
“Violence, Identity, and Poverty”
“Growth and Inequality”
“Religion and the Market”
“Gender and the War on the Terror”
“Saving Amina: Global Justice for Women and Intercultural Dialogue”
“The Social Construction of Sex Trafficking: Ideology and Institutionalization”
“Now You See Her, Now You Don’t: Sex Workers at the UN Trafficking Negotiations”