This is an archived course. A more recent version may be available at ocw.mit.edu.

 

Calendar

LEC # TOPICS KEY DATES
1 Problems of Justice in a Democratic Society  
I. Utilitarianism
2 Hedonistic Utilitarianism  
3 The Enforcement of Morals  
4 A New Account of the Human Good  
5 The Benefits of Freedom  
6 Free Exercise and Religious Accommodations  
II. Libertarianism
7-8 The Minimal State and Possessive Libertarianism Paper 1: First version due 2 days after Lec #7
9 Liberty and Labor Market Regulation  
10 Liberty and the Rule of Law  
11-12 Choice-Based Libertarianism Paper 1: Rewrite due 2 days after Lec #11
13 Equal Opportunity and Education  
III. Egalitarian Liberalism
14-15 Equality and Personal Responsibility Paper 2: First version due on Lec #15
16 The Problem of Health Insurance  
17 Equality and Affirmative Action  
18-20 Reconciling Liberty and Equality Paper 2: Rewrite due on Lec #18
21 Even More Egalitarian?  
22 Political Equality and Campaign Finance  
IV. Four Topics
23 Justice at Life's Inception  
24 Multiculturalism, Group Rights, and Gender Equality  
25 Human Rights  
26 Rights and Emergencies Paper 3 due