24.04
Justice
Provides an introduction to contemporary political thought centered around the ideal of justice and the realities of injustice. Examines what a just society might look like and how we should understand various forms of oppression and domination. Studies three theories of justice (utilitarianism, libertarianism, and egalitarian liberalism) and brings them into conversation with other traditions of political thought (critical theory, communitarianism, republicanism, and post-structuralism). Readings cover foundational debates about equality, freedom, recognition, and power.
Spring 2012
Topics
- Introduction
- Classical Utilitarianism
- Communal Norms
- Revisionist Utilitarianism
- The Harm Principle
- The Utility of Speech
- The Utility of Liberty
- The Utility of Democracy
- Rights as Side-constraints
- Against Redistribution
- The Entitlement Theory
- Justice in Acquisition
- Justice in Transfer
- Is the Equality of Opportunity Principle Incoherent?
- Justice as Fairness
- Markets & Moral Desert
- Equal Opportunity & Effort
- Justice & the Family
- Justice & the Social Ethos
- Money & Elections
- Justice & Basic Income
- Justice & Reciprocity
- Justice & the Ghetto Poor
- Justice & the Global Poor
- Justice & Immigration
- Conclusion
Readings
- LEC #: 1 · TOPICS: Introduction · READINGS: No readings
- Burns, J. H., and H. L. A. Hart, eds. “Of the Principle of Utility.” Chapter 1 in An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation: The Collected Works of Jeremy Bentham . Oxford University Press, 1996. ISBN: 9780198205166.
- ———. “Value of a Lot of Pleasure or Pain, How to be Measured.” Chapter 4 in An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation: The Collected Works of Jeremy Bentham . Oxford University Press, 1996. ISBN: 9780198205166.
- ———. “Cases Unmeet for Punishment.” Chapter 13 in An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation: The Collected Works of Jeremy Bentham . Oxford University Press, 1996. ISBN: 9780198205166.
- ———. “Of the Limits of the Penal Branch of Jurisprudence.” Section 1 of Chapter 17 in An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation: The Collected Works of Jeremy Bentham . Oxford University Press, 1996. ISBN: 9780198205166.
- Mill, John Stuart. “What Utilitarianism Is.” Chapter 2 in Utilitarianism . CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2010. ISBN: 9781453857526.
- Nozick, Robert. “The Experience Machine.” In Anarchy, State, and Utopia . Basic Books, 1977. ISBN: 9780465097203.
- Mill, John Stuart. “Introductory.” Chapter 1 in On Liberty . Simon & Brown, 2012. ISBN: 9781613823736.
- ———. “Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion.” Chapter 2 in On Liberty . Simon & Brown, 2012. ISBN: 9781613823736.
- ———. “Of Individuality, as One of the Elements of Well-being.” Chapter 3 in On Liberty . Simon & Brown, 2012. ISBN: 9781613823736.
- ———. “That the Ideally Best Form of Government is Representative Government.” Chapter 3 in Considerations on Representative Government . CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2011. ISBN: 9781466336445.
- ———. “Of the Extensions of the Suffrage.” Chapter 8 in Considerations on Representative Government . CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2011. ISBN: 9781466336445.
- Nozick, Robert. In Anarchy, State, and Utopia . Basic Books, 1977, pp. 28–42, and 45–51. ISBN: 9780465097203.
- ———. In Anarchy, State, and Utopia . Basic Books, 1977, pp. 149–64, 167–74, and 235–8. ISBN: 9780465097203.
- ———. In Anarchy, State, and Utopia . Basic Books, 1977, pp. 150–3, and 174–82. ISBN: 9780465097203.
- Nozick, Robert. “Voluntary Exchange.” In Anarchy, State, and Utopia . Basic Books, 1977. ISBN: 9780465097203.
- Cohen, G. A. “Are Disadvantaged Workers Who Take Hazardous Jobs Forced to Take Hazardous Jobs?” Sections 2–5 in History, Labour, and Freedom: Themes from Marx . Oxford University Press, 1989. ISBN: 9780198247791.
- ———. “The Alleviation of Poverty.” Chapter 12 in Capitalism and Freedom: Fortieth Anniversary Edition . University Of Chicago Press, 2002. ISBN: 9780226264219.
- ———. “The Distribution of Income.” Chapter 10 in Capitalism and Freedom: Fortieth Anniversary Edition . University Of Chicago Press, 2002, pp. 161–6. ISBN: 9780226264219.
- Rawls, John. Selections from Sections 1–4, 11–3, 17, 24, 26, and 29. In A Theory of Justice: Original Edition . Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2005. ISBN: 9780674017726.
- ———. Selections from Sections 43–44, and 47–48. In A Theory of Justice: Original Edition . Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2005. ISBN: 9780674017726.
- Okin, Susan Moller. “Introduction: Justice and Gender.” Chapter 1 in Justice, Gender, and the Family . Basic Books, 1991. ISBN: 9780465037032.
- ———. “Justice as Fairness: For Whom?” Chapter 5 in Justice, Gender, and the Family . Basic Books, 1991. ISBN: 9780465037032.
- Rawls, John. “Brief Comments on Leisure Time.” Section 53 in Justice as Fairness: A Restatement . Edited by Erin Kelly. Harvard University Press, 2001. ISBN: 9780674005112.
- Beitz, Charles. Political Theory and International Relations . Princeton University Press, 1999, pp. 127–54. ISBN: 9780691009155.
- LEC #: 26 · TOPICS: Conclusion · READINGS: No readings
Prerequisites & course information
Same subject as 17.01[J] Prereq: None U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H; CI-H
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Spring 2012
- MIT OCW readings ↗
- MIT OCW calendar ↗
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.