BASS Philosophy and Criminology

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This course asks what injustice is and how it may be legitimately resisted. Though no political theorist suggests that we live in an ideally just world, they disagree profoundly about what constitutes an injustice and what it means for a state of affairs to be unjust. What, for example, shall we make of injustices that happened in the past, such as slavery and colonialism, but which still impact people today? Who is responsible for addressing and rectifying these past injustices and their enduring impact on people’s lives today? Likewise, there is deep disagreement about what forms of resistance to injustice is legitimate and appropriate. Should resistance always be non-violent, or are there circumstances in which violent resistance to injustice can be legitimate?  

This course explores normative understandings of injustice and resistance in political theory. It does so both by looking at core theoretical accounts of these concepts, as well as through a number of specific political issues and debates. It specifically tackles the ethical, rather than empirical, questions of these issues and debates. Each year, the course focuses on a selection of issues and debates from, for example, the following themes: migration, sexual politics, workplace power; segregation.

The course will start with a brief introductory session, followed by 9 2-hour substantive lectures and a revision and review lecture. Substantive and revision lectures will be accompanied by 10 1-hour tutorials taught by GTAs. The lectures will incorporate interactive and multimedia components when appropriate. Its focus on real-world political problems lends itself well to using such devices.

Students will be expected to do the required reading for each tutorial and to be prepared to make an active contribution to the discussion in it. Tutorial reading will be structured around weekly preparatory questions, answers to which students will have to submit each week to their GTA. Students will also be strongly encouraged to do to the reading already before the lectures in order to increase engagement and understanding. 

Identify, explain and contrast different normative accounts of injustice and legitimate forms of resistance  

Critically analyse issues in contemporary political debates based on normative accounts of injustice and resistance 

Explain and critically assess complex texts covering normative arguments

Develop normative analyses of contemporary political issues using theoretical concepts discussed in the course

Synthesise accounts in the relevant literature to craft a coherent argument 
 

Independently plan and undertake research for a written assignment 
 

2000 word essay (50%)

2 hour exam (50%)

Politics staff will provide feedback on written work within 15 working days of submission via Blackboard (if submitted through Turnitin).

Students should be aware that all marks are provisional until confirmed by the external examiner and the final examinations boards in June.

For modules that do not have examination components the marks and feedback for the final assessed component are not subject to the 15 working day rule and will be released with the examination results. This applies to Semester 2 modules only. Semester one modules with no final examination will have their feedback available within the 15 working days.

You will receive feedback on assessed essays in a standard format. This will rate your essay in terms of various aspects of the argument that you have presented your use of sources and the quality of the style and presentation of the essay. If you have any queries about the feedback that you have received you should make an appointment to see your tutor. Tutors and Course Convenors also have a dedicated office hour when you can meet with her/him to discuss course unit specific problems and questions.

On assessments submitted through Turnitin you will receive feedback via Blackboard. This will include suggestions about ways in which you could improve your work in future. You will also receive feedback on non-assessed coursework, whether this is individual or group work. This may be of a more informal kind and may include feedback from peers as well as academic staff

- Catriona McKinnon (ed.), Issues in Political Theory, 3^rd edition, Oxford: OUP 2015.

- Jonathan Wolff, Avner de-Shalit, Disadvantage, Oxford: OUP 2007.

- Jonathan Wolff, Ethics and Public Policy – A Philosophical Inquiry, London: Routledge 2011.

- Adam Swift, How not to be a  Hypocrite: School Choice for the Morally Perplexed, London: Routledge 2003.

- Michael Sandel, What Money Can’t Buy: the Moral Limits of Markets, London: Allen Lane 2012.

- Debra Satz, Why Some Things Should not be for Sale: the Moral Limit of the Market, Oxford: OUP 2010.

- Harry Brighouse, School Choice and Social Justice, Oxford: OUP 2000.

- Keith Banding and Will Kymlicka (eds.), Multiculturalism and the Welfare State – Recognition and Redistribution in Contemporary Democracies, Oxford: OUP 2006.

- Robert E. Goodin, Reasons for Welfare – The Political Theory of the Welfare State, Princeton: Princeton University Press 1988.

- T.H. Marshall, “Citizenship and Social Class”, in his Citizenship and Social Class and other essays, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1950, pp. 1-85.

- Colin Crouch, Postdemocracy, Cambridge: Polity 2004.