Political Theory Section: Equality

Political Science 211

Fall 1999

Prospectus

What is equality? The focus in this class will be analyzing and understanding a concept, in this case, equality. It will also emphasize paying close attention to the details of the text and reconstructing its arguments.

Requirements

Conference participation in good faith. One hour in class exam on the last day of class.

Books and Reserves

All the material for this class is on reserve. Most items (except for Aristotle) are in xerox form. Aristotle's Politics can be found in the library stacks as well as on reserve.

Readings

Please note: readings are divided into 4 groups of 3 (we meet 3 times a week for 4 weeks).

Please note that if during your section a monday or friday is a holiday, you simply continue on in sequence to the next reading.

1 (First Reading). Aristotle, The Politics, Book III, Chapters 6-14 (1278b-1285a)

2. John Schaar, "Equality of Opportunity and Beyond" from Equality: Nomos IX, ed. Pennock and Chapman, pp. 228-249.

3. Daniel Bell, "On Meritocracy and Equality," The Public Interest, 29 (1972) p. 29-68.

1. .David Miller, "Arguments for Equality." from Midwest Studies in Philosophy, Vol 7, ed. Peter A. French, Theodore E. Uehling Jr., and Howard K. Wettstein (1982), pp. 73-87

2. John Rawls, "A Kantian Conception of Equality", Cambridge Review (February 1975): 94-96 (Sections I-III only)

3. Two readings: oRawls, Sections IV-VI (96-99) oAmartya Sen, "Justice and Capability" (Chapter 5) from Inequality Reexamined, pp. 73-87.

1. Sen, "Equality of What?" from Contemporary Political Philosophy, edited by Goodin and Pettit, pp. 476-486

2. Michael Walzer, "Complex Equality" from Contemporary Political Philosophy, edited by Goodin and Pettit, pp. 487-503.

3. Nancy Fraser, "After the Family Wage" from Justice Interruptus: Critical Reflections on the "Post-Socialist" Condition, pp. 41-68.

1. Martha Minnow, "Justice Engendered" from Contemporary Political Philosophy, edited by Goodin and Pettit, pp. 504-524.

2. Lani Guinier, "Groups Representation, and Race Conscious Districting: A Case of the Emperor's Clothes" from Critical Race Theory, edited by Kimberle Crenshaw, pp. 205-235.

3. In Class Exam