PHIL 352 Borders, Walls, Us and Them

This course offers an introduction to the philosophical issues raised by political and economic relations in the global system. Classes typically deal with challenges such as just distribution of goods and services; the morality of war; the complexity of humanitarian intervention; recognition across national boundaries; and environmental justice.

4 Undergraduate credits

Effective August 16, 2017 to present

Meets graduation requirements for

Learning outcomes

General

Compare and contrast major moral theories and alternative explanatory accounts of the functioning of the global system.
Apply the resulting understandings to an analysis of the moral dilemmas inevitably facing all members of the global community, from state leaders to individual citizens.
Assess the role of race, class and gender in the ways in which these issues present themselves in the global community.
Focus most acutely on the centrality of justification for claims.
Use the work of the course to allow students to reflect on personal beliefs and attitudes about global issues and on ways to act on these beliefs.

Minnesota Transfer Curriculum

Goal 6: The Humanities and Fine Arts

Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.
Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context.
Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.
Engage in the creative process or interpretive performance.
Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.

Goal 9: Ethical and Civic Responsibility

Examine, articulate, and apply their own ethical views.
Understand and apply core concepts (e.g. politics, rights and obligations, justice, liberty) to specific issues.
Analyze and reflect on the ethical dimensions of legal, social, and scientific issues.
Recognize the diversity of political motivations and interests of others.
Identify ways to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.