Monday September 28. Rawls’s Theory of Justice: The Fundamental ArgumentJepson School of Leadership Studies, University of Richmond Fall 2009 LDST 205: Justice and Civil Society Dr. Thad Williamson Rm. 135, Jepson Hall [email protected] Office hours: Mondays, 2:15-4 p.m.. or by appointment. The purpose of this course is to enable students to think about contemporary social problems in systemic terms, both with respect to normative theories of justice and with respect to the organization of our social, economic, and political institutions. Thinking systemically about social justice involves (at least) four central components, each of which will be addressed in some depth in this course. The first component is normative. What is justice? Should we regard justice as a personal virtue, an attribute of an entire society, or both? What specific qualities characterize a just society? What do terms like “fairness,” “equal opportunity,” and “liberty” mean? What (if anything) does society owe its citizens? How do our conceptions of justice relate to our conceptions of the good life? The second component is cognitive and empirical. What are the causes of observed instances of social dysfunction, poverty, and suffering? To what extent are such problems products of individual choices and behavior, and to what extent are they products of larger social forces, or larger political-economic trends? How do multiple social stressors interact with one another to produce social pain? To what degree are our perceptions of poverty and of the excluded informed by our own social locations and assumptions? The third component is experiential. What is the day-to-day reality of life in deprived communities, or on society’s margins? How can efforts to ameliorate social pain be most effective? What can one learn from spending time in poor communities? The fourth component is ethical. What does it mean to try to “do justice” in a society such as the United States? Do we have a responsibility to make “doing justice” a central part of our daily lives? How should I personally come to terms with the inequities and injustices characteristic of contemporary American. society? All four of these components are connected with one another; while some parts of the course will emphasize one component more than others, each set of questions will remain on the table throughout the course. As we go along, we will want to constantly re-evaluate our assumptions and provisional judgments in light of new information or new perspectives.Course Requirements: 1.Attendance at each class session and active participation. Class participation is 20% of the class grade. If you attend every class session and never contribute anything, your participation grade will be 15/20 (C). You can raise your grade by active and informed participation (including active listening). The first unexcused absence will lead to a 1 point (5%) subtraction of your semester participation grade; the second to a 2 point subtraction; and so on. Around the middle of October I will post to Blackboard your midterm participation grades so you have some feedback. Note that as in any other part of the course an A grade (19 or 20) in participation will be difficult to obtain. Note also that talking a lot does not necessarily guarantee you a very high participation grade; contributions to class that advance the class discussion are valued more than sheer quantity of participation. Advancing the class discussion can take several forms, from calling attention to something important in the reading we haven’t talked about yet, to answering a question posed by the instructor, to asking a factual or interpretive question of relevance to the discussion, to stating (and giving reasons) why you think you disagree with another student or the instructor. 2. Completion of 26 hours of service in an approved site within the city of Richmond or the immediate surroundings. Failure to complete this service by Friday December 4 will result in a failing grade for the course; no excuses. On Monday September 14, you should turn in a brief (150-200 words) synopsis describing your site location, your supervisor, what your role will be, and any initial impressions. This is an important check-in as if there are substantial problems or obstacles we would like to identify them as soon as possible. Periodically throughout the semester we will set aside time in class to discuss your experiences at the sites. 3. Four additional hours of social observation. The recommended activity is participation in the Richmond police department’s citizen ride-along program. To sign up, please notify Dr. Kerstin Soderlund ([email protected]) of your intention to participate by Friday September 2, along with a list of times during the week you will be available. The ride-along will take place in September or October; we will discuss the ride-alongs in class in late October. You will be required to sign a consent form prior to your ride-along. Important note: during the police ride-along there is a possibility you may be exposed to volatile and potentially dangerous situations. Students in previous classes who have been on a ride-along often describe the experience as one of the most intense and interesting they have had since being in college, but you should be aware of the possibility that a dangerous situation may emerge. If you are uncomfortable with this, you can participate in the alternative social observation activity, attendance at a session of juvenile court. If you choose this option, you should notify Dr. Soderlund by email, also by September 2, so that we can work on making arrangements for you. Whether you go on the police ride-along or to juvenile court, you should compile and submit a write-up of your experience of roughly 500-750 words (this is a required but not graded exercise). This assignment should be submitted via Blackboard. 4. Attendance at a “Poverty Simulation” on Tuesday September 8 at 6 pm. in the Center for Civic Engagement. This will last approximately two hours. 5. Attendance at a screening of the film 49 Up during the second week of class; scheduled for Monday September 28 at 6 p.m. Food will be provided.6. Participation in at least one brown bag discussion of the book “Guyland,” sponsored by the One Book, One campus Program. There will be multiple discussion times you can sign up for. If you choose