THEORIES OF JUSTICE

SPRING 2011 ~ SYLLABUS

Course Information
CJS 3301- 501
Theories of Justice
Wed 7-9:45
ECSS 2.311

Professor Contact Information

Professor Kristine Horn
Lit8gater@verizon.net
Kristine.horn@utdallas.edu
Office hours: by appointment

Course Description and Objectives:

This course provides an introductory survey of basic theories and perspectives

regarding the concept of justice. Students will examine selected readings from
classical and contemporary theorists and explore the social and political application
of these theories in contemporary society.

Upon completion of the course, you should have a basic understanding of the
general principles and problems of justice theories and be able to apply the theories
in the context of modern society.

Required Textbooks:

Plato, Republic, Grube Translation; Hackett Publishing; ISBN 978-0-87220-

136-1

The Prince, Machiavelli, Wooten ed. and trans.; Hackett Publishing; ISBN 0-
87220-316-6

On Liberty, John Stuart Mill; Hackett Publishing; ISBN-13 978-0-91544-43-

3

Aristotle, Politics; Hackett Publishing ISBN-10 0-97220-388-3

John Locke, Second Treatise of Government; Hackett Publishing ISBN 0-

915144-86-7

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan; Hackett Publishing ISBN-13: 978-0-87220-177-4

I recommend that you purchase the translations of the texts listed above in order to
follow the quotations I select and answer the discussion questions. However, I do
appreciate the need to economize. Therefore, you may purchase all but the Mill text
in different translations.

Additional Readings: Each student will also be responsible for one of the following
additional readings for the Essay/Presentation project: Aristotle (Nicomachean
Ethics): Hume (A Treatise of Human Nature); Hayek (The Road to Serfdom);
Rawls (A Theory of Justice).

Course Requirements

The course grade is based on 2 papers, quizzes, and an essay/presentation project.

The two papers will be premised on assigned course readings of classical theories.
The essay and presentation will be based on one of the additional readings. Points
will be allocated as follows:

Paper I- 20%
Quizzes- 25%
Essay/presentation-25%
Paper II-30%

 The specifics for all assignments are posted on a separate link on my website.

Course & Instructor Policies

• WEB SITE: http://mysite.verizon.net/kdhmrg/utd

Bookmark this page! I use my web site in the same fashion as Blackboard.
Assignments, supplemental readings, useful links, class notes, and announcements
are posted here. You should check the site on a regular basis to determine if there
are any announcements pertaining to the upcoming class period.

• Papers. Papers are due at the beginning of the class period on the designated
due date. Unless I specifically request that you send your paper to me via email, or
the extreme circumstances clause applies and you are unable to attend class papers
will not be accepted by email. If you send your paper via email, you
must send it to me at the lit8gater@verizon.net address as a
Word (.doc) or Wordperfect attachment. If you have Vista or
the more recent version of Word, you MUST convert it to a
.doc attachment; otherwise I will be unable to open it.
Please note that Late papers will not be accepted at all. The
only exception to this FIRM policy is the “Extreme
Circumstances Clause.”

• The EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES CLAUSE. Extreme circumstances

include plague, pestilence, nuclear war, death, and serious illness (of immediate
family members). They do not include family obligations, work, social obligations,
or the demands of other courses. If you are faced with a bona fide emergency,
contact me BEFORE the class period if at all possible, send your assignment in
word or word perfect via email to my home email address, and be prepared to
submit documentation of the emergency. If you know in advance that you will not
be attending class on an assignment due date, you can avoid these dire consequences
by turning your assignment in early.

• “The Dog Ate It”. Please keep a copy of your writing assignments. Also, to
sidestep easily avoided problems related to computer failures—keep a backup copy
of your work and be ready to make alternative arrangements for last minute
printing. A crashed computer does not qualify as an extreme event under the
EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES clause above.

• Course Reading/Participation. Students are expected to read the assignments

before class and make a significant effort toward meaningful participation in class
discussion. Lectures and class debate will supplement the reading material. You will
miss important material if you are not in class, and this is likely to have an adverse
impact on your overall course grade. Meaningful participation throughout the
semester is expected and will be rewarded. Moreover, the instructor reserves the
right, in the case of students on the borderline between letter grades, to consider
significant and meaningful class participation, effort, and attendance in determining
whether to award the higher letter grade.

• Extracurricular Activities. Students participating in University approved

activities must supply documentation, including the dates they will be out, by the
third class period in order to receive an alternative assignment. It is the student’s
responsibility to timely provide documentation and obtain the alternative
assignment.

• Attendance. DO NOT CONTACT ME IF YOU WILL NOT BE IN CLASS

unless the day in question is the day of an exam or on which a paper is due AND the
Extreme Circumstances clause applies. Attendance is taken for the sole purpose of
assisting the instructor in determining whether to award discretionary points at the
end of the semester.

• Extra Credit. I do not currently anticipate offering any extra credit

opportunities. This policy may be revisited if circumstances warrant
reconsideration.

• Availability. The fact that I do not maintain an office at UTD DOES NOT
mean I am not available. I am happy to meet with you before or after class or at
another mutually convenient time. Please do not hesitate to contact me.

• Courtesy. Courtesy is expected. The classroom is a forum for the exchange of

ideas, and you can expect to hear opinions that may differ from your own.
Diplomatic expression of disagreement and diversity of thought is encouraged, but
outward expression of intolerance, rudeness, and disrespect directed toward fellow
classmates or the instructor will not be tolerated. Enter the classroom as you would
any great movie— turn off electronic devices, log out of Facebook, and refrain from
private discussion that may disrupt others.

University policies concerning grade appeals, disability services, student conduct,

etc can be found at: http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies

(Assigned Readings and Course Schedule on next page)

 CALENDAR AND ASSIGNED READINGS

Jan 12 Course Introduction

Jan 19 Intro to Republic, Republic Books I, II,

Jan 26 Republic Book III, V, VII, VII, VIII

Feb 2 Finish Republic

Feb. 9 Politics; Intro sections 7-10, Book I (Ch.12, 13), Book

II (Ch. 1-6). Book VII (Ch. 1-3, 8-9, 13-17); Book VIII

Feb. 16 Finish Politics, Intro to Prince

Feb. 23 Prince, Ch. 1, 5-23, PAPER I DUE

March 2 QUIZ 1, GROUP MEETINGS

March 9 Presentations (Aristotle, Hume)

March 16 SPRING BREAK

March 23 Leviathan, p.74-145

March 30 Second Treatise, Ch. 1-3, 5-8, 18, 19

April 6 QUIZ 2, GROUP MEETING

April 13 On Liberty (First half)

April 20 On Liberty (Second Half)

April 27 Presentations (Hayek, Rawls) PAPER II DUE

These dates are tentative and subject to adjustment as needed. Students

are responsible for all schedule changes announced in class or posted on
my web site.