PP3FAI: Fairness

Module code: PP3FAI

Module provider: Philosophy; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Charlotte Newey, email: c.newey@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 23 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Fairness is a complex yet familiar concept. In this module, we are seeking a thorough understanding of fairness and how it that shapes our understanding of justice, and morality. We will delve into different theories of fairness, asking questions about its importance and relationship to concepts such as justice, impartiality, need, and deservingness. By examining real-world examples such as global poverty, climate change, and the intersection of fairness and moral demandingness, we will gain a deeper understanding of this abstract idea. Whether in personal relationships, business dealings, or larger societal issues, fairness is a key component of a just and equitable world.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a deep understanding of different theories of fairness and their implications for justice, impartiality, and morality.
2. Apply your understanding of fairness to real-world examples, using them to critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of theories of fairness.
3. Apply your critical thinking skills to explore the relationships between fairness, justice, impartiality, need, and deservingness.
4. Demonstrate strong analytical skills by interpreting and evaluating arguments within important texts in the philosophy of fairness.
5. Cultivate effective communication skills by presenting and defending your own arguments about the philosophy of fairness in written and oral formats.
6. Enhance your ability to think reflectively and critically about the role of fairness in society.

Module content

Topics covered on the module will typically include: the nature of impartiality and its relation to fairness, how fairness connects to the free-rider problem, the idea that fairness is merely a matter of the equal treatment of equals, the idea that fairness requires proportionality, the ideas that fairness requires treating people in accordance with their needs or their deservingness.

Questions about global fairness as well as questions about local fairness will be discussed.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is taught through interactive lecture/seminars, which include working in breakout groups, to discuss philosophical views and applications, to reflect on set readings and the to share ideas with fellow students. Each week students will be introduced to different academic texts, and the arguments within them.

Students are encouraged to be active in all classes, asking questions and trying to answer the questions posed by others.

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs