Class hours: W 2:10-4:50 pm
Office hours:  M 8-9 pm, Tu 2-5 pm, W 5-7 pm
Office: Ward 252
Phone: 885-2955 (Call any time; you may leave a message if I am not in.)
E-mail: dgolash@american.edu  (for prompt response please include "JLS 501 in subject line)

Course Description

This course examines leading philosophical theories of justice, particularly with respect to the foundations for the authority of the state, the justification of property rights, and the distribution of wealth in society. Liberal, Marxist, libertarian, communitarian, and feminist views are considered.

Materials:

All listed materials are required.  Most are available on 2-hour reserve at the library.  Links to web versions are provided where available.

• John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, Prometheus Books.
• J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism, Broadview Press.
• John Rawls, A Theory of Justice, Harvard University Press, 1971.
• Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia, Basic Books, 1974.
  
• Susan Okin, Justice, Gender and the Family.  Basic Books, 1989.
• Additional materials on web and electronic databases

Requirements

• All students are expected to read the assigned materials carefully and to come to class prepared to discuss them.
• Each student will write a 10-15 page paper on a topic to be selected before the midterm date. You will choose your own specific dates to submit a topic and draft paper. These dates are binding once selected.
• There will be an optional midterm and a required final exam.

Grading

• Class attendance and participation - 10%
• Tests - 40% (if you take the midterm, each test counts 20%)
• Draft paper - 15%
• Final Paper - 35%