University of Texas at Dallas

CJS 3301.005 Theories of Justice

Fall 2007
Syllabus

Instructor: Dr. Brian Bearry Teaching Assistant: TBA

Office: GR 3.704 phone: x 4966
Office hrs: by appointment
email: brian.bearry@utdallas.edu

Required texts:
Aristotle Politics (Carnes Lord trans.) University of Chicago Press ISBN: 978-0-226-
02669-5
Ethics, Book V: http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.5.v.html

Machiavelli, Niccolo Prince (Mansfield trans) University of Chicago Press ISBN: 978-0-226-50044-7
Locke, John Selected Political Writings Norton Critical Edition ISBN 0-393-96451-5
Rousseau, Jean-Jacques First and Second Discourses, Roger Masters ed. St. Martin’s Press
ISBN 0312694407
Hayek, Friedrich The Road to Serfdom University of Chicago Press ISBN: 0-226-32055-3
Rawls, John. Justice as Fairness, a Restatement Belknap Press ISBN: 0674005112
.
Course description and objectives:

This course provides an introductory survey of the basic theories and perspectives regarding the concept of
justice by examining selected readings from classical, modern and contemporary theorists. The first third
of this course will explore classical theories justice, as well as explore classical theories’ political and social
ramifications on contemporary society. The focus of the second and final thirds of the semester will shift to
the modern and current debate regarding justice; with particular attention paid to the relationship between
justice and both human and individual rights and the role of government in securing justice. Upon the
completion of the course, you should have a basic understanding of the general principles and problems
regarding theories of justice, as well as have a basic understanding of these theories application to present
social life.

Course requirements, attendance policy and grading:

exam #1 30%
exam #2 30%
exam #3 30%
Quizzes/participation 10%

Course requirements:
There will be three exams, each weighted at 30% of your final grade. 10% of your final grade will be
determined by attendance and quiz performance. Failure of four quizzes will result in the loss of 5% of
your participation grade; failure of six quizzes will result in the loss of your full participation grade. There
will be a course grade reduction of 5% for every two additional quiz failures. Should you miss a quiz due to
an absence or tardy, a grade of “F” will be assigned and will stand. There are no make-up quizzes or
exams. Final grades are determined at the instructor’s discretion. Attendance is expected and required.
The exams will consist almost equally of lecture and reading material. All exams and the course grade will
be determined by the following scale:

A: 94-100 B-: 80-83 D+: 67-69

A-: 90-93 C+: 77-79 D: 64-66
B+: 87-89 C: 74-76 D-: 60-63
B: 84-86 C-: 70-73 F: below 60
Class rules.

1. email: You must put your full name on all email correspondence. Emails sent without a name will not
be answered. We will NOT send exam, quiz, assignment and final grades via email. You may
receive your grades when exams, etc., are returned during or after class, or you may drop by my or the
TA’s office hours to receive your grades and other pertinent material.

2. You may not reschedule an exam for any reason—except for a documented medical emergency.

3. In order for you to receive an excused absence, you must notify me or the Teaching Assistant prior
to class; or you must have a documented medical emergency; otherwise, all absences and tardies will
be considered unexcused.

4. There will be a 5% final grade reduction per incident for disrupting class. This includes cell phones,
pagers, and any other electronic device that rings, whirrs, clicks, beeps, etc. This also includes
talking and any other behavior that interferes with others trying to participate in class.

5. All grades are final (unless there is a mistake when determining a grade—this does happen).
The time to be concerned with a grade is during the semester, not after. When challenging a grade, it is the
responsibility of the student to produce the requisite materials. There is no extra credit given in this class.

6. NO LAPTOP COMPUTERS MAY BE USED IN THIS CLASS.

DO NOT BRING CELL PHONES INTO EXAMS. ANYONE CAUGHT WITH A CELL PHONE OR ANY
OTHER ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WILL IMMEDIATELY RECEIVE A 0 (F) FOR
THAT EXAM.

University Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty:

It is the policy of the University of Texas at Dallas that cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated under any
circumstances. Violations will result in immediate disciplinary action to the fullest extent of the policy, which can
range from automatically failing an exam to dismissal from the University. See the University catalog for a detailed
explanation.

You should allow yourself ample time to complete the reading prior to class. The Crime and Justice
Studies Program has designed this course to have a substantial reading component, and as the material is
written in a rather dense and obscure manner, you should expect each week’s reading to take anywhere
from six to twelve hours (the rule of thumb for assigning weekly reading is to assign approximately 3 hours
of reading for each class hour.)

Reading:

When reading, ask yourself the following questions; it will help you put the material in context as well as
dramatically help you on your papers and exams.

1. Is what your author discussing a right, good or just way to live?

2. Is this how men and women actually live or should live? Can women and men live the way your
author suggests?
3. Who benefits—individuals? Society? All?
4. Who is ruling—why? Is this good, right or just rule?
5. If you answer “no” to the questions concerning goodness and rightness; or if you believe a concept
or idea is unjust, ask yourself the question, “What’s the alternative?”
reading schedule:

Aug 20—course introduction

A classical foundation for justice.

Aug 22—Ethics, chapters (sections 1-6)

Aug 27—Ethics, chapters 7-11; Politics, Book I, chapters 1-7
Aug 29—Politics, Book III, chs 1-13
Sept 3—NO CLASS, LABOR DAY
Sept 5—Politics, Bk IV, chs. 1-11; Bk V, chs. 1-9
Sept 10—Politics, Bk VI, chs. 1-5, Bk VIII entire; exam #1 review
Sept 12—EXAM #1

Modernity and justice.

Sept 17—Machiavelli, Prince, chs. 1,2,3,5,6,7,9,14

Sept 19—Machiavelli, Prince, chs. 15,16,17,18,19,20,25
Sept 24—Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality (2nd Discourse), Letter to the Republic of Geneva,
Preface, Part I
Sept 26—Rousseau, 2nd Discourse, Part II
Oct 1—Rousseau, cont.
Oct 3—Locke, 2nd Treatise, chs. 1,2,3,5,7
Oct 8—Locke, 2nd Treatise, chs. 8,9,10,11
Oct 10—Locke, 2nd Treatise, chs., 16,17,18,19
Oct 15—Locke, Letter Concerning Toleration
Oct 17—Locke, lecture and exam #2 review
Oct 22—EXAM #2

Two contemporary views of justice.

Oct 24—Hayek, Road to Serfdom; Introduction, chs. 1, 2, 3,4

Oct 29—Hayek, Road to Serfdom; chs. 5, 6, 7, 8,
Oct 31—Hayek, Road to Serfdom, chs 9, 10, 11, 13
Nov 5—Hayek, Road to Serfdom, chs 14, 15, 16
Nov 7—Rawls, Justice as Fairness, pt I
Nov 12—Rawls, Justice as Fairness, pt II
Nov 14—Rawls, Justice as Fairness, pt III
Nov 19—Rawls, Justice as Fairness, pt IV
Nov 21—lecture, Hayek and Rawls
Nov 26—last day of class, exam #3 review