Economic, Political and Social Ethics

lespo1321  2020-2021  Louvain-la-Neuve

Economic, Political and Social Ethics
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information below is subject to change, in particular that concerning the teaching mode (presential, distance or in a comodal or hybrid format).
3 credits
30.0 h
Q2
Teacher(s)
Ponthiere Gregory;
Language
English
Main themes
Inevitably perhaps within economic and social debate, there is constant confusion between empirical comments, theoretical statements and value judgments. The course tries to teach students how to clarify this debate by distinguishing the various types of question, by clarifying the criteria which, for each type, should enable them to decide between competing positions, and examines how the value judgments which underlie the debate can themselves be the subject of a rigorous discussion.
Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

1 This course gives students a synthetic and critical outline of the principal contemporary approaches to economic and social ethics. In this way, and through the effective use of analytical tools with which they are provided, the course aims to help students to take a critical and informed position towards the ethical issues which arise in the broad field covered by the economic, social and political sciences.
 
Content
What would a fair society look like? To answer that question, this course provides an introduction to the tools and concepts of economic, social and political ethics. It provides students with a synthetic and critical overview of the main contemporary theories of social justice. The course thus aims to help students to situate themselves critically and informally with regard to ethical issues in the broad field of economic, social and political science.
Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

This course is organized in two parts. Part I will provide a panorama of the main contemporary theories of justice (utilitarianism, libertarianism, marxism, liberal egalitarianism, communautarianism, feminism). Part II will consist of applying those general theories to concrete social issues (for instance, migrations, education, climate change). During the course, multiple choice questionnaires will be provided, to encourage the active practice, by students, of normative reasoning.
ALL PIECES OF INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THE PRACTICAL ORGANIZATION OF THIS COURSE (MODE OF TEACHING DEPENDING ON THE PREVAILING COLOUR CODE) ARE AVAILABLE ON MOODLE. 
Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

The final examen takes the form of a series of multiple choice questionnaires.
Online resources
Slides of the course available on Moodle.
MCQ of the course available on Moodle.
Solutions of MCQ available on Moodle. 
Bibliography
Arnsperger, C. & Van Parijs, P. (2000) Ethique économique et sociale, La Découverte, Paris.
Kymlicka, W. (1990). Contemporary Political Philosophy. An Introduction. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Miller, D. (1976). Social Justice, Oxford University Press. 
Teaching materials
  • Slides du cours (fournis par l'enseignant) disponibles à l'avance sur Moodle
Faculty or entity
ESPO


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Aims
Bachelor in Philosophy

Bachelor in Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Minor in Sustainable Development

Bachelor in Economics and Management

Bachelor in Sociology and Anthropology

Certificat d'université en éthique économique et sociale

Master [120] in Ethics

Bachelor in Political Sciences: General

Minor in Management (ESPO students)

Master [60] in Philosophy

Bachelor : Business Engineering

Bachelor in Human and Social Sciences

Master [120] in Philosophy