PP1GJ-Global Justice

Module Provider: Philosophy
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Miss Michela Bariselli
Email: michela.bariselli@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Global traditions of philosophy  from the Buddha and Confucius to Simone Weil, Frantz Fanon, Martin Luther King Jr., and African and Native American thinkers advocate ideas of justice and freedom that extend far beyond contemporary conceptions. This course shows how these thinkers question our  ideas of justice, and  transform how we approach injustice and freedom in the  context of race and colonialism, nature and  indigenous communities, identity  and sexuality, family and polity, through radically different conceptions of freedom and violence,  love, equality and harmony.

Some of the claims we will examine include: Justice is freedom from suffering!  Revolutionary violence is cathartic and emancipatory! Political justice  requires mental training! Nature is alive and has rights! Gender and sexual freedom are gained by  dissolving bodily boundaries!  Truth lies in pleasure! Justice is  love! Social justice comes with harmonising differences! 

Aims:

The course encourages students to question their most fundamental beliefs and ideas about justice and freedom in conversation with global traditions of philosophy. It encourages students to think innovatively by engaging with cross-cultural philosophical resources and applying these to contemporary problems. Students are introduced to a variety of ways of ‘doing’ philosophy through global traditions that develop skills in oral and written argument, and enable philosophical engagement in multicultural societies with a variety of group interests and problems. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students will gain awareness of the core concepts and issues in justice from a global perspective and ways of approaching these through cross-cultural philosophical dialogue. They will learn skills of argument and presentation, and understand what counts as ‘Philosophy’, and the diverse methodologies that underpin it in a cross-cultural approach. Students will come to acquire skills of research and enquiry by undertaking research to produce coursework essays, and learn how to critically appraise what they discover. Students will also develop personal effectiveness and self-awareness: they will learn how to communicate effectively with a range of audiences (one-to-one, seminars and lectures) using a range of oral and written means. They will learn to reflect on their progress, their strengths and weaknesses, and the goals they wish to achieve.

Additional outcomes:

This module gives students an opportunity to enhance their multicultural awareness and intercultural competencies by considering global perspectives in the study of Philosophy: from what it means to be human to diverse conceptions of community and nature in different cultures and philosophies. Students will learn to approach social and civic responsibility through an appreciation of the values of inclusiveness and diversity. They will learn about different perspectives on social and environmental justice, gender and sexuality, colonialism and race, and learn how concepts from very different cultures and contexts can be relevant in approaching contemporary problems.

Outline content:

Topics covered in this module include: (1) Buddhist ideas of justice, suffering, and freedom; (2) injustice as social suffering; (2) Simone Weil on justice, love, and the moral worth of others; (3) Frantz Fanon on cathartic violence and  emancipatory political struggle; (4) Martin Luther King Jr. on non-violence and justice; (5) Nelson Mandela and African philosophers on ubuntu and restorative justice; (6) Confucian conceptions of justice as social reciprocity and the harmony of opposites; (7) Native American and Indigenous philosophies on kinship with nature and nature’s ‘rights’ and norms; (8) Michel Foucault and Christian feminine mysticism  on sexuality and the truth of pleasure.

Global context:

This module will situate students’ understanding of ‘Philosophy’ as a practice in a global context and develop an understanding of the diverse ways there are of doing philosophy in the global community. It will greatly enhance the resources students have for understanding and developing their own thought and practice in a global context, and their intercultural competencies, by developing a sound understanding of diverse philosophical perspectives on the fundamental questions of human social and political life. 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module is taught by lectures and seminars. Students are expected to attend 20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars during the term in which it is provided. All students are required to write two module essays from a list of questions supplied by the module convenor and to give one seminar presentation. Students are encouraged to be active in all classes, asking questions and trying to answer the questions posed by others. A reading list and sample questions will be given out at the start of the course. There will be an in-class test at the end of the course. 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		20
Seminars		10
Guided independent study:		170
Total hours by term	0	200	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	90
Class test administered by School	10

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

1st assignment: 40%

2nd assignment: 50%

Class Test: 10% 

Formative assessment methods:

Online activities (e.g. quizzes)

Feedback on essay plans.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 40% overall. 

Reassessment arrangements:

Written assignment

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 21 September 2023