Syllabus - Justice in Global Perspective

Dalhousie University PHIL 2475: Justice in Global Perspective Fall 2019 Professor: Dr. Shaun Miller Class: MWF, 11:35-12:25, Sir James Dunn, #135 Office: Marion McCain 3103 Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:15-3:45, or by appointment Email:shaun.miller@dal.ca TA: David White, dv817201@dal.ca, office hours by appt. Course Description In this course, we will be exploring global ethics from a philosophical perspective. This means that ethical and political theories and methods will be used to understand and evaluate a variety of pressing concerns raised by the fact of globalization at the individual, national, and institutional level. By considering several case studies, the importance of linking philosophical theory and practice will be emphasized. We will discuss the following areas of concern: Human rights, global governance and citizenship, global poverty, global conflict (including terrorism), global bioethics, climate ethics, and global gender justice. Course Format Although the course is primarily organized around readings and lectures, students are encouraged to ask questions and challenge ideas and there will be a number of opportunities for small group discussions as well as whole class discussions. Course objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, students will: 1. at the general level, possess an informed understanding of the principal theoretical resources used to analyse and address ethical and political concerns related to globalization; 2. at the level of application, be familiar with how various ethical and political theories are brought to bear upon pressing issues arising from the global interconnection of individuals, nations and institutions; 3. be able to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing, critical responses to the theories, specific applications of those theories, and to the problems presented in the course. Course Readings: The required textbook is: Widdows, Heather. 2014 or 2011. Global Ethics: An Introduction. Oxford: Routledge (First published 2011 by Acumen with the same content). All other readings are to be found on Brightspace. Course Requirements: Quizzes (20%): Quizzes ensure that you are learning the materials in class to prepare you for upcoming assignments and exams. These quizzes consist of multiple choice and T/F. There are 1 six quizzes and they will be due on Monday and they will cover materials from the previous week(s). These quizzes are timed (60 min.) so I recommend doing a quick review beforehand. Reflection Essays (30%): Students are required to hand in three reflection papers during the course of the term. I will give specific topics, writing guidelines, submission procedures, and evaluation criteria via Brightspace. You are to make a solid argument for your position. The objective is to make sure you understand the theories we’re discussion, how to apply the theories, and that your essays are consistent overall. You can briefly summarize an issue, problem, or theme (no more than a paragraph), but the majority of your grade will depend on your critical engagement with the ideas in the texts. Grades will be based on how accurately you explicate the chosen class/reading topic and identify relevant issues in previous readings and lectures, and how well you elaborate upon and support your reactions. In developing your reaction, don't just say that you agree with an idea or that you think an idea is wrong—explain why you think that using the concepts and ideas that we have discussed in the class. Your grade is based not on what you believe, but on how well you have developed your reasons for your views in direct response to the arguments in the reading. In short, don’t simply write your opinions or what you already think about a topic—instead, demonstrate through your writing that you are thinking about the issues. These will be turned in through Brightspace. Take Home Exams (40%): Take home exams will consist of a series of questions and your answers will be typed and handed in class, but you will also handin a digital copy on Brightspace as insurance that there’s a copy. There will be two take home exams (20% each). Case Studies (10%): Case Studies consist of group work in engagement with a specific case. We will discuss the case studies when at the end of each global issue. Students will be required to formulate their thoughts and put these in writing according to the questions on the case study. Any missed case studies will be counted as a zero. The breakdown goes as follows: Quizzes (6 @ 16-17 points each) 100 points (20%) Reflection Essays (3 @ 50 points each) 150 points (30%) Take Home Exams (2 @ 100 points each) 200 points (40%) Case Studies (5 @ 10 points each) 50 points TOTAL: 500 points (100%) (10%) Late Policy: None! Don’t even ask. It is your responsibility to make sure that you submit your papers in a timely matter either in class or through Brightspace. 2 Letter grade/numerical grade conversion A+ = 90 – 100% (450 – 500 points) C+ = 65 – 69% (325 – 345 points) A = 85 – 89% (425 – 445 points) C = 60 – 64% (300 – 320 points) A- = 80 – 84% (400 – 420 points) C- = 55 – 59% (275 – 295 points) B+ = 77 – 79% (385 – 395 points) D = 50 – 54% (250 – 270 points) B = 73 – 76% (365 – 380 points) (marginal pass) B- = 70 – 72% (350 – 360 points) F = < 49% (< 249 points) (Fail) Email policy Please keep emails brief and to the point. No emails about the content of the course will be answered by email (except under exceptional circumstances, such as a prolonged absence due to sickness). Questions about the course material should be raised in class or during office hours. If you are in search of information about the course (readings, examination formats, etc.) please check the class website first. If you inquire after information that is already on Brightspace you will be directed there to find it. Please use ‘Global Justice’ and your name in the subject line of the email. There will be no option of doing work for extra credit because a student is unsatisfied their grade on any of the tests or assignments. Course website There will be a Brightspace site for this course. Readings will be posted there. Students are responsible for knowing the material in the readings, lectures and class discussions. Statement on inclusiveness and respect Students in this class are encouraged to speak up and participate. Given the nature of philosophy, this means that sometimes people will express or defend views that others find absurd or offensive. It is important that students feel free to both express and defend their views without fear of reprisals and that they also feel free to disagree with and critique the views of others. Because the class will represent a diversity of individual beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences, every member of this class must show respect for every other member of this class. Excellence in critical discourse requires careful and generous listening as well as kind and considered responses. CLASSROOM POLICIES REGARDING ELECTRONIC DEVICES: • The use of cell phones will not be permitted during class time for texting or phoning. They may only be used when students are asked to log in to Brightspace • Please bring laptops to class, if you have them. You will be able to follow class slides, and also access your Brightspace when required. Accommodation 3 The Advising and Access Services Centre is Dalhousie's centre of expertise for student accessibility and accommodation. The advising team works with students who request accommodation as a result of: a disability, religious obligation, or any barrier related to any other characteristic protected under Human Rights legislation (NS, NB, PEI, NFLD). Click here to read more. Students who require academic accommodations for either classroom participation or the writing of tests and exams should make their request to the Advising and Access Services Center (AASC) prior to or at the outset of the regular academic year. Please visit www.dal.ca/access for more information and to obtain the Request for Accommodation form. A note taker may be required as part of a student’s accommodation. There is an honorarium of $75/course/term (with some exceptions). If you are interested, please contact AASC at 494-2836 for more information or send an email to notetaking@dal.ca. Please note that your classroom may contain specialized accessible furniture and equipment. It is important that these items remain in the classroom, untouched, so that students who require them will be able to fully participate in the class. (http://www.dal.ca/campus_life/academic-support/accessibility/accommodation-statement-for-co urse-syllabus.html) I am committed to providing whatever reasonable accommodations each student might require in order to succeed in this course. Students should get in touch with me at the beginning of the term or as soon as possible to discuss what measures might help them to reach their personal and academic goals. Students who wait until the end of the course to request accommodations are much less likely to receive them. Please don’t forget that there are many resources at Dalhousie to help you succeed (see Section B below) UNIVERSITY POLICIES, STATEMENTS, GUIDELINES and OTHER RESOURCES for SUPPORT This course is governed by the academic rules and regulations set forth in the University Calendar and the Senate. University Statements Academic Integrity At Dalhousie University, we are guided in all of our work by the values of academic integrity: honesty, trust, fairness, responsibility and respect (The Center for Academic Integrity, Duke University, 1999). As a student, you are required to demonstrate these values in all of the work you do. The University provides policies and procedures that every member of the university community is required to follow to ensure academic integrity. Click here to read more. Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s work in a way that gives the impression that it is one’s own. Any ideas or information that are not the student’s own original contribution should 4 be properly cited. Direct quotations from the text must be placed in quotation marks and properly cited. Self-plagiarism is the submission of work by a student in a class that is substantially similar to work that the student has already done for another class. Any students who would like to work on a topic that is substantially similar to work they have already done, should contact the professor and discuss the situation. All cases of plagiarism or self-plagiarism are serious and will be taken to the Academic Integrity Officer. All students in this class are to read and understand the policies on plagiarism and academic honesty as referenced in the Undergraduate Calendar. Ignorance of such policies is no excuse for violations. Be sure not to plagiarize, intentionally or unintentionally, for example… ∙ clearly indicate the sources used in your written or oral work ∙ do not use the work of another from the Internet or any other source and submit it as your own ∙ do not take passages from a source, change a few words and then present it as your own ∙ when you use the ideas of other people (paraphrasing), make sure to acknowledge the source ∙ do not submit work that has been completed through collaboration or previously submitted for another assignment without permission from your instructor […] Student Code of Conduct Everyone at Dalhousie is expected to treat others with dignity and respect. The Code of Student Conduct allows Dalhousie to take disciplinary action if students don’t follow this community expectation. When appropriate, violations of the code can be resolved in a reasonable and informal manner—perhaps through a restorative justice process. If an informal resolution can’t be reached, or would be inappropriate, procedures exist for formal dispute resolution. Click here to read more. Diversity and Inclusion – Culture of Respect Every person at Dalhousie has a right to be respected and safe. We believe inclusiveness is fundamental to education. We stand for equality. Dalhousie is strengthened in our diversity. We are a respectful and inclusive community. We are committed to being a place where everyone feels welcome and supported, which is why our Strategic Direction prioritizes fostering a culture of diversity and inclusiveness (Strategic Priority 5.2). Click here to read more. Recognition of Mi’kmaq Territory Dalhousie University rests on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) people first signed with the British Crown in 1725. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations. [Slightly amended from the statement by the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT Guide to Acknowledging Traditional Territory, 2016).] Dalhousie University would like to acknowledge that the University is on Traditional Mi’kmaq Territory. The Elders in Residence program provides students with access to First Nations elders for guidance, counsel and support. 5 Visit the office in the McCain Building (room 3037) or contact the programs at elders@dal.ca or 902‐494‐6803 (leave a message). Where can you turn for help? ● Important Dates in the Academic Year (including add/drop dates) http://www.dal.ca/academics/important_dates.html ● University Grading Practices: Statement of Principles and Procedures https://www.dal.ca/dept/university_secretariat/policies/academic/grading-practices-policy .html ● Grade Appeal Process https://www.dal.ca/campus_life/academic-support/grades-and-stu dent-records/appealing-a-grade.html ● Sexualized Violence Policy https://www.dal.ca/dept/university_secretariat/policies/human-rig hts---equity/sexualized-violence-policy.html ● Scent‐Free Program https://www.dal.ca/dept/safety/programs-services/occupational-safety/scent-free.html ● General Academic Support - Academic Advising: https://www.dal.ca/campus_life/academic-support/advising.html ● Copyright Office https://libraries.dal.ca/services/copyright-office.html ● Copyright and Fair Dealing: https://libraries.dal.ca/services/copyright-office/fair-dealing/fair-dealing-guidelines.html ● Libraries: http://libraries.dal.ca ● Student Health Services: https://www.dal.ca/campus_life/health-and-wellness/health-services.html ● Counselling and Psychological Services: https://www.dal.ca/campus_life/health-and-wellness/counselling.html ● On Track (helps you transition into university, and supports you through your first year at Dalhousie and beyond https://www.dal.ca/campus_life/academic-support/On-track.html ● Human Rights and Equity Services https://www.dal.ca/dept/hres.html ● Elders‐in‐Residence (The Elders in Residence program provides students with access to First Nations elders for guidance, counsel and support. Visit the office in the Indigenous Student Centre or contact the program at elders@dal.ca or 902‐494‐6803.) https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/core-units/global-health/div ersity/indigenous-health/elders-in-residence.html ● International Centre https://www.dal.ca/campus_life/international-centre.html ● South House Sexual and Gender Resource Centre https://southhousehalifax.ca/ ● LGBTQ2SIA+ Collaborative ‐ https://www.dal.ca/dept/hres/education-campaigns/LGBTQ2SIA-collaborative.html 6 ● Black Student Advising: https://www.dal.ca/campus_life/communities/black-student-advising.html ● Indigenous Student Centre: https://www.dal.ca/campus_life/communities/indigenous.html ● ELearning Website: https://www.dal.ca/dept/elearning.html ● Student Advocacy Services: http://www.dsu.ca/dsas ● Dalhousie Ombudsperson: https://www.dal.ca/campus_life/safety-respect/student-rights-and-responsibilities/where-t o-get-help/ombudsperson.html ● Studying for Success program and tutoring: https://www.dal.ca/campus_life/academic-support/study-skills-and-tutoring.html ● Writing Centre (see http://www.dal.ca/campus_life/student_services/academic-support/writing-and-study-skil ls.html) Assistance with learning to write academic documents, reviewing papers for discipline -specific writing standards, organization, argument, transitions, writing styles and citations ● Dalhousie Libraries (see http://libraries.dal.ca/writing_and_styleguides.html Workshops, online tutorials, citation guides, Assignment Calculator, RefWorks) ● Faculty or Departmental Advising Support: See https://www.dal.ca/faculty/arts/programs.html for links to departmental websites and information about advising What will happen if an allegation of an academic offence is made against you? [University statement] Your instructor is required to report every suspected offence. The full process is outlined in the Faculty Discipline Flow Chart (www.dal.ca/dept/university_secretariat/academic-integrity.html) and includes the following: ∙ Each Faculty has an Academic Integrity Officer (AIO) who receives allegations from instructors ∙ Based on the evidence provided, the AIO decides if there is evidence to proceed with the allegation and you will be notified of the process ∙ If the case proceeds, you will receive a PENDING grade until the matter is resolved ∙ If you are found guilty of an offence, a penalty will be assigned ranging from a warning, to failure of the assignment or failure of the class, to expulsion from the University. Penalties may also include a notation on your transcript that indicates that you have committed an academic offence. (https://www.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/university_secretariat/Syllabus_Statement_(Aug %202015).pdf) Course Schedule (may be subject to revision): Date Topic and Events Wed., Sep. 4 Introducing the class and syllabus. Fri., Sep. 6 Case Studies: Female Genital Cutting, Selling Body Parts, Torture Reading pp. 13-29 7 Mon., Sep. 9 NO SCHOOL DUE TO HURRICANE Wed., Sep. 11 Universalism and Relativism pp. 30-42 Fri., Sep. 13 Utilitarianism: Producing overall consequences Quiz #1 due this Monday pp. 42-52 Mon., Sep. 16 Kantianism: respecting people Reflection Paper #1 Handed Out pp. 53-58 Wed., Sep. 18 Virtue ethics: helping people flourish pp. 59-66 Fri., Sep. 20 Cosmopolitanism: Citizen of the World https://aeon.co/essays/you-are-a-citizen-of-the-world-how-shouldyou-act-on-that pp. 68-77 Mon., Sep. 23 Rawls: Two Principles of Justice pp. 77-81 Wed., Sep. 25 Rawls cont. Fri., Sep. 27 CLASS CANCELLED. CLIMATE JUSTICE PROTEST Quiz #2 due this Monday Mon., Sep. 30 Three other Accounts of Cosmopolitanism Take Home Exam #1 Handed Out pp. 81-88 Wed., Oct. 2 Alternatives to Cosmopolitanism Last day to drop courses without a “W”: Oct 2. pp. 89-97 Fri., Oct. 4 Types of Rights pp. 109-114 Mon., Oct. 7 Basic Rights/Rights as Trumps (not Donald) pp. 114-121 Wed., Oct. 9 Global Governance, Institutions, and the Marketplace Using Economic Structures to fight Injustice pp. 130-140 pp. 140-148 Fri., Oct. 11 Fighting Global Poverty: Utilitarianism and Kantian Approaches Quiz #3 due this Monday pp. 149-158 Mon., Oct. 14 NO CLASS NO CLASS Wed., Oct. 16 Fighting Global Poverty: Cosmopolitan and Rights Approach Reflection Paper #2 Handed Out pp. 158-163 Fri., Oct. 18 INSTRUCTOR OUT OF TOWN NO CLASS Mon., Oct. 21 Aid, Capability Approaches pp. 164-172 8 Wed., Oct. 23 Case Study #1 Fri., Oct. 25 Just War Theory: Jus Ad Bellum pp. 173-182 Mon., Oct. 28 Just War Theory: Jus In Bello, Pacifism pp. 182-187 Wed., Oct. 30 Terrorism, Humanitarian Interventions Last day to drop courses with a “W”: Oct 31. pp. 187-199 Fri., Nov. 1 Case Study #2 Mon., Nov. 4 Abortion and Euthanasia Take Home Exam #2 Handed Out Wed., Nov. 6 Declaration of Helsinki Readings on (https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki-e Brightspace thical-principles-for-medical-research-involving-human-subjects/) pp. 200-208 The Belmont Report (https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/belmont-report/ read-the-belmont-report/index.html) Just read parts A and B. Standard of Care (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3088386/) Just read Table 2 Duty of Care Checklist (https://www.cpha.ca/duty-care-checklist) Just read Key Definitions. Peter Lurie and Sidney M. Wolfe, “Unethical Trials of Interventions to Reduce Perinatal Transmission of HIV in Developing Countries” Danstan Bagenda and Philippa Musoke-Muidido, “We’re Trying to Help our Sickest People, Not Exploit Them” Fri., Nov. 8 Medical Tourism Quiz #4 due this Monday pp. 208-212 Mon., Nov. 11 NO CLASS NO CLASS Wed., Nov. 13 NO CLASS NO CLASS Fri., Nov. 15 NO CLASS NO CLASS Mon., Nov. 18 Case Study #3 9 Wed., Nov. 20 The Global Climate Crisis Reading on Brightspace Fri., Nov. 22 Lifeboat Ethics; Tragedy of the Commons Quiz #5 due this Monday pp. 237-238 Mon., Nov. 25 Rights Approaches and Solutions pp. 239-249 Wed., Nov. 27 Case Study #4 Fri., Nov. 29 Women’s Rights; Protecting Women; Capability Approach pp. 256-265 Mon., Dec. 2 Care Ethics pp. 265-270 Tues., Dec. 3 Case Study #5 Reflection #3 Handed Out Quiz #6 due this Monday 10