10: Chapter 2, "The Principles of Justice", pp. 54-117
17: Chapter 3, "The Original Position", pp. 118-150
24: Chapter 3, "The Original Position", pp. 150-192
March:
02: Chapter 4, "Equal Liberty", pp. 195-257
09: Chapter 6, "Duty and Obligation", pp. 333-362
16: Mid-term exam
Chapter 6, "Duty and Obligation", pp. 363-391
23: Chapter 7, "Goodness as Rationality", pp. 395-452
30: Chapter 9, "The Good of Justice", pp. 513-587
April:
06: Thomas Nagel, "Rawls on Justice", pp. 1-16
13: Spring break
20: Ronald Dworkin, "The Original Position", pp. 16-53
27: Joel Feinberg, "Rawls and Intuitionism", pp. 108-124
May:
04: H.L.A. Hart, "Rawls on Liberty and its Priority", pp. 230-253
11: Final exam: 5-6:50pm
Course Requirements:
Quizzes: There will be an in-class quiz each week, beginning 3 February. The combined quizzes will count for 25% of your course grade, and the one lowest quiz score will be dropped. These quizzes will take various forms, such as true/false, fill in the blank, short essay, and perhaps a combination, and will be based solely on the reading for that week.Paper: A term paper (8-12 pages) is due 11 May 1992, by 3pm in L21. This is a research paper and requires that information from outside reading be incorporated into your discussion of some topic treated by Rawls in A Theory of Justice. The paper needs to be typed, double-spaced with one-inch margins all around. Please gather all footnotes at the end, and consult The Chicago Manual of Style for footnote format. You should make a copy of, and use, "Editing Notation" when writing your paper. It is on reserve in the Library. The paper will count for 25% of your course grade.
Presentation One 10-15 minute in-class presentation is required of all students. This is to consist of a precis (abstract or summary) of some chapter section in A Theory of Justice. The presentation must include, but not necessarily be limited to: 1) A clear statement of the argument(s) Rawls offers in the section; 2) The reason(s) for the importance of the section; 3) A statement of reasoned opinion on your part as to whether Rawls accomplishes his goal in the section. A typed copy of your presentation must be turned in on the day it is given. A sign-up sheet is available for your perusal. Please sign up by 10 February to avoid being arbitrarily assigned a section. This presentation will count for 25% of your course grade.
Exam: You have the option of taking either a mid-term or final exam, but not both. This is an individual decision. The mid-term will be given on 16 March. The final will be given on 11 May. Both exams will be essay. The exam you elect to take will count for 25% of your course grade.
Grading: My general grading scale is: 100-93 = A; 92-90 = A-; 89-87 = B+; 86-83 = B; 82-80 = B-; 79-77 = C+; 76-73 = C; 72-70 = C-; 69-67 = D+; 66-60 = D; 59-00 = F. I think of myself as a fair, but merciful, grader. If at any time you have a concern about a grade recorded for you, please do not hesitate to see me about it. I believe open- and fair-mindedness to be worthy pursuits.
Class attendence is vital. If we break up into discussion groups, as I plan to do sometimes, your absence will be glaring. Please make every attempt to attend every class, and to stay for the entire session. Please be prompt.
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