Students
PHIL3057 – Theories of Justice
2024 – Session 2, Online-flexible
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Paul-Mikhail Catapang Podosky
Lecturer
John Gorris
Lecturer
Ana Tanasoca
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
What is justice? What is fairness? This unit explores these important questions by examining leading philosophical theories of justice, including John Rawls's influential model, as well as the main political approaches that are associated with them, such as liberalism, libertarianism, republicanism, and socialism. We assess the capacity of these theories and approaches to respond to pressing social justice issues. We focus on issues of inequality and diversity in society by asking: what degree of inequality, if any, can be justified? We also examine broader questions around social and retributive justice, such as: How can we justify punishing those who violate justice? What are the obligations of democratic citizenship? Is our society and its political institutions racist, sexist, or unfairly biased against cultural minorities? What do we owe the poor in other countries? And is our treatment of animals and the environment a matter of justice? |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: understand some of the major theories and current debates in contemporary political philosophy
- ULO2: analyse arguments in the relevant literature
- ULO3: evaluate relevant theories and arguments critically
- ULO4: communicate clearly your own perspective on the views and arguments presented in the unit
General Assessment Information
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. This late penalty will apply to written reports and recordings only. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case study | 35% | No | 2024-09-15 |
| Philosophical essay | 40% | No | 2024-11-03 |
| Participation | 25% | No | On-going (Weekly) |
Case study
Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 2024-09-15
Weighting: 35%
Application of philosophical concepts, arguments and frameworks introduced in the unit to a practical problem
On successful completion you will be able to:
- understand some of the major theories and current debates in contemporary political philosophy
- analyse arguments in the relevant literature
- evaluate relevant theories and arguments critically
- communicate clearly your own perspective on the views and arguments presented in the unit
Philosophical essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 2024-11-03
Weighting: 40%
Philosophical essay
On successful completion you will be able to:
- understand some of the major theories and current debates in contemporary political philosophy
- analyse arguments in the relevant literature
- evaluate relevant theories and arguments critically
- communicate clearly your own perspective on the views and arguments presented in the unit
Participation
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: On-going (Weekly)
Weighting: 25%
Participate in relevant discussions and activities. Students are expected to be well-prepared and make a constructive contribution.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- understand some of the major theories and current debates in contemporary political philosophy
- analyse arguments in the relevant literature
- evaluate relevant theories and arguments critically
- communicate clearly your own perspective on the views and arguments presented in the unit
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Required and recommended texts and/or materials
All weekly readings for the unit will be made available through the Leganto link in iLearn.
Lectures
There will be a two-hour lecture delivered on campus, recorded and posted on Echo 360 in iLearn. Students enrolled "in person" must attend the live lecture.
Unit Webpages and E-Resources
Much of this unit (lecture recordings, readings, assessment instructions etc.) is delivered online through iLearn (http://ilearn.mq.edu.au). PC and Internet access are required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement. Please consult teaching staff for any further, more specific requirements.
Unit Schedule
Unit Topics:
Introduction: Equality and Diversity
Liberalism (John Rawls)
Luck Equalitarianism (Ronald Dworkin)
Libertarianism (Robert Nozick)
Republicanism (Elizabeth Anderson)
Socialism (Karl Marx; GWF Hegel)
Retributive Justice (Punishment)
Global Justice
Climate Justice
Animal Justice
Feminism
Justice and Racial Minorities
Weekly schedule will be release on iLearn before the semester begins.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Academic Integrity
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
The Writing Centre
The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
- Workshops
- Chat with a WriteWISE peer writing leader
- Access StudyWISE
- Upload an assignment to Studiosity
- Complete the Academic Integrity Module
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
- IT Support
- Accessibility and disability support with study
- Mental health support
- Safety support to respond to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault
- Social support including information about finances, tenancy and legal issues
- Student Advocacy provides independent advice on MQ policies, procedures, and processes
Student Enquiries
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Unit information based on version 2024.04 of the Handbook