Liberal Rights and Social Justice
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
This course aims to provide students with a critical understanding of liberalism as a political theory, considering both its conception of constitutional rights and its approach to political justice. Students will engage with key philosophical debates on the limits and potential of liberalism when it comes to addressing social justice issues, particularly those concerning liberty, differences, and inequalities. Another objective is to enable students to critically assess liberal theories of justice, examining their internal tensions, the critiques they face, and the extent to which they can respond to different forms of social injustice. The course also seeks to enhance students' ability to apply normative political theories to contemporary debates, as well as their critical reasoning and informed discussion skills.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students are expected to:
Knowledge and understanding
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of liberalism as a theory of constitutional rights and political justice, as well as its limitations in achieving social justice.
- Demonstrate an understanding of key liberal principles such as the priority of basic liberties, liberty-limiting principles, liberal neutrality, and principles of distributive justice.
Applying knowledge and understanding
- Critically apply liberal theory to assess real-world issues related to basic liberties, economic inequality, sexism and racism, and identity politics.
- Analyse institutional mechanisms, such as judicial review, the rule of law, and judicial guarantees, from a normative perspective.
Making judgements
- Evaluate the strengths and limitations of liberalism when it comes to responding to contemporary demands for social justice.
- Formulate well-argued positions on contested issues such as meritocracy, equal opportunity and structural injustice.
Communication skills
- Present complex theoretical arguments in a clear, structured and persuasive manner.
- Engage constructively in academic debate, demonstrating an openness to alternative viewpoints.
Learning skills
- Demonstrate the ability to read, understand and summarise academic texts on political philosophy and legal theory.
- Reflect critically on the relationship between normative theory and political practice, developing habits of independent and lifelong learning.
- Demonstrate the ability to independently locate relevant philosophical literature using search engines and bibliographic repositories.
Knowledge and understanding
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of liberalism as a theory of constitutional rights and political justice, as well as its limitations in achieving social justice.
- Demonstrate an understanding of key liberal principles such as the priority of basic liberties, liberty-limiting principles, liberal neutrality, and principles of distributive justice.
Applying knowledge and understanding
- Critically apply liberal theory to assess real-world issues related to basic liberties, economic inequality, sexism and racism, and identity politics.
- Analyse institutional mechanisms, such as judicial review, the rule of law, and judicial guarantees, from a normative perspective.
Making judgements
- Evaluate the strengths and limitations of liberalism when it comes to responding to contemporary demands for social justice.
- Formulate well-argued positions on contested issues such as meritocracy, equal opportunity and structural injustice.
Communication skills
- Present complex theoretical arguments in a clear, structured and persuasive manner.
- Engage constructively in academic debate, demonstrating an openness to alternative viewpoints.
Learning skills
- Demonstrate the ability to read, understand and summarise academic texts on political philosophy and legal theory.
- Reflect critically on the relationship between normative theory and political practice, developing habits of independent and lifelong learning.
- Demonstrate the ability to independently locate relevant philosophical literature using search engines and bibliographic repositories.
Lesson period: Second trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second trimester
Course syllabus
The course focuses on liberalism as a political theory and examines its capacity to offer a distinctive account of individual rights and social justice. A central aim of the course is to clarify the dual nature of liberalism, which can be understood both as a theory of constitutional justice and as a more comprehensive political theory of justice. As a theory of constitutional justice, liberalism articulates a framework of fundamental rights and institutional constraints that limit the exercise of political power and structure political competition in pluralistic societies. In this role, liberalism does not provide answers to all political questions, but rather defines the boundaries within which different and sometimes competing conceptions of justice may be pursued.
Understood as a comprehensive political theory, liberalism offers more substantive principles intended to regulate social and economic inequalities. At this level, liberalism appears as one among several competing theories of justice, and even within liberalism itself a plurality of liberal theories can be identified, reflecting different answers to the political questions left open by the constitutional framework. The course uses this distinction to situate liberal theories of social justice within a broader liberal constitutional context.
Against this general background, the course examines liberalism through an in-depth analysis of John Rawls's theory of justice, which is taken as a paradigmatic liberal account of both constitutional rights and social justice. Rawls's work provides a systematic framework for understanding how the protection of basic liberties can be combined with a demanding conception of distributive justice, and it serves as the main reference point for the discussion of liberal rights and equality throughout the course.
The course is structured into an introductory lecture, two main blocks of lectures, and a concluding lecture. The introductory lecture presents the aims of the course and situates Rawls's theory within the broader landscape of liberal political philosophy. The concluding lecture draws together the main themes discussed throughout the course and assesses the relevance and limits of liberal theories of justice.
The first block of lectures is devoted to a systematic presentation of Rawls's theory of justice. It introduces the idea of a theory of justice and its object, method, and status, and examines the fundamental ideas of society and the person, the original position, and its constructivist interpretation. It then analyses Rawls's principles of justice, their justification, and their implications for individuals and social institutions. Particular attention is devoted to the liberal elements of justice as fairness, political liberalism, political neutrality, Rawls's conception of distributive justice, and the ideal of a property-owning democracy. The block also addresses Rawls's extension of his theory beyond the domestic context through the Law of Peoples.
The second block of lectures is dedicated to the critical discussion of Rawls's theory and to issues that arise beyond it. It examines influential critiques of Rawls's account of both social and global justice, as well as alternative approaches such as neoliberalism and luck egalitarianism. It also explores questions of justice that Rawls does not address or addresses only superficially, such as questions concerning justice and redistributive policies, the social division of labour, and justice for people with disabilities. Finally, moving from ideal to non-ideal theory, the course addresses forms of injustice that Rawls does not discuss, or does not discuss adequately, including those related to sexism, racism, and identity politics.
Course schedule
- Course introduction (07/01/2026)
- Theory of justice: object, method, status (13/01/2026)
- Fundamental ideas and the original position (14/01/2026)
- The principles of justice and their justification (20/01/2026)
- The principles for individuals and the obligation to obey the law (21/01/2026)
- The liberal elements of justice as fairness (27/01/2026)
- Political liberalism and political neutrality (28/01/2026)
- Rawls's conception of distributive justice (03/02/2026)
- The ideal of a property-owning democracy (04/02/2026)
- Justice beyond borders: the Law of Peoples (10/02/2026)
- Global justice beyond Rawls (11/02/2026)
- Nozick and Cohen's critiques of Rawls (17/02/2026)
- Neoliberalism and luck egalitarianism (18/02/2026)
- Justice and redistributive policies (24/02/2026)
- Position paper: justice and redistributive policies (25/02/2026)
- Justice for people with disabilities (03/03/2026)
- Justice and the social division of labour (04/03/2026)
- Liberal justice, sexism and racism (10/03/2026)
- Position paper: liberal justice, sexism and racism (11/03/2026)
- Course conclusion (17/03/2026)
Understood as a comprehensive political theory, liberalism offers more substantive principles intended to regulate social and economic inequalities. At this level, liberalism appears as one among several competing theories of justice, and even within liberalism itself a plurality of liberal theories can be identified, reflecting different answers to the political questions left open by the constitutional framework. The course uses this distinction to situate liberal theories of social justice within a broader liberal constitutional context.
Against this general background, the course examines liberalism through an in-depth analysis of John Rawls's theory of justice, which is taken as a paradigmatic liberal account of both constitutional rights and social justice. Rawls's work provides a systematic framework for understanding how the protection of basic liberties can be combined with a demanding conception of distributive justice, and it serves as the main reference point for the discussion of liberal rights and equality throughout the course.
The course is structured into an introductory lecture, two main blocks of lectures, and a concluding lecture. The introductory lecture presents the aims of the course and situates Rawls's theory within the broader landscape of liberal political philosophy. The concluding lecture draws together the main themes discussed throughout the course and assesses the relevance and limits of liberal theories of justice.
The first block of lectures is devoted to a systematic presentation of Rawls's theory of justice. It introduces the idea of a theory of justice and its object, method, and status, and examines the fundamental ideas of society and the person, the original position, and its constructivist interpretation. It then analyses Rawls's principles of justice, their justification, and their implications for individuals and social institutions. Particular attention is devoted to the liberal elements of justice as fairness, political liberalism, political neutrality, Rawls's conception of distributive justice, and the ideal of a property-owning democracy. The block also addresses Rawls's extension of his theory beyond the domestic context through the Law of Peoples.
The second block of lectures is dedicated to the critical discussion of Rawls's theory and to issues that arise beyond it. It examines influential critiques of Rawls's account of both social and global justice, as well as alternative approaches such as neoliberalism and luck egalitarianism. It also explores questions of justice that Rawls does not address or addresses only superficially, such as questions concerning justice and redistributive policies, the social division of labour, and justice for people with disabilities. Finally, moving from ideal to non-ideal theory, the course addresses forms of injustice that Rawls does not discuss, or does not discuss adequately, including those related to sexism, racism, and identity politics.
Course schedule
- Course introduction (07/01/2026)
- Theory of justice: object, method, status (13/01/2026)
- Fundamental ideas and the original position (14/01/2026)
- The principles of justice and their justification (20/01/2026)
- The principles for individuals and the obligation to obey the law (21/01/2026)
- The liberal elements of justice as fairness (27/01/2026)
- Political liberalism and political neutrality (28/01/2026)
- Rawls's conception of distributive justice (03/02/2026)
- The ideal of a property-owning democracy (04/02/2026)
- Justice beyond borders: the Law of Peoples (10/02/2026)
- Global justice beyond Rawls (11/02/2026)
- Nozick and Cohen's critiques of Rawls (17/02/2026)
- Neoliberalism and luck egalitarianism (18/02/2026)
- Justice and redistributive policies (24/02/2026)
- Position paper: justice and redistributive policies (25/02/2026)
- Justice for people with disabilities (03/03/2026)
- Justice and the social division of labour (04/03/2026)
- Liberal justice, sexism and racism (10/03/2026)
- Position paper: liberal justice, sexism and racism (11/03/2026)
- Course conclusion (17/03/2026)
Prerequisites for admission
No prior knowledge is required.
Teaching methods
Although class attendance is not compulsory, it is highly recommended. Based on previous years' experience, students who attend are more likely to pass the exam at their first attempt and achieve a higher grade.
Teaching for attending students will consist of lectures, class discussions, and recommended reading on the topics covered in the lectures.
Lecture slides will be available on the course MyAriel website.
Students who do not attend should prepare for the exams by studying the texts indicated in the bibliography section of the syllabus.
Teaching for attending students will consist of lectures, class discussions, and recommended reading on the topics covered in the lectures.
Lecture slides will be available on the course MyAriel website.
Students who do not attend should prepare for the exams by studying the texts indicated in the bibliography section of the syllabus.
Teaching Resources
All students, attending and non-attending, are required to read the following texts:
- Rawls, J. Justice as Fairness: A Restatement. Harvard University Press, Cambridge (MA), 2001.
- Rawls, J. "The Law of Peoples". In Critical Inquiry, vol. 20, no. 1, 1993, pp. 36-68.
In addition, students will be required to read some texts from a list of elective readings. The complete list of elective readings together with instructions for selection will be provided by the end of January.
As a general criterion, attending students will be required to read texts totalling between 60 and 90 pages per credit, while non-attending students will be required to read texts totalling between 100 and 150 pages per credit. According to ministerial guidelines, 1 credit corresponds to 25 hours of commitment. Subtracting the time dedicated to lectures and note-taking for attending students, this equates to approximately 4-6 pages per hour of individual study.
- Rawls, J. Justice as Fairness: A Restatement. Harvard University Press, Cambridge (MA), 2001.
- Rawls, J. "The Law of Peoples". In Critical Inquiry, vol. 20, no. 1, 1993, pp. 36-68.
In addition, students will be required to read some texts from a list of elective readings. The complete list of elective readings together with instructions for selection will be provided by the end of January.
As a general criterion, attending students will be required to read texts totalling between 60 and 90 pages per credit, while non-attending students will be required to read texts totalling between 100 and 150 pages per credit. According to ministerial guidelines, 1 credit corresponds to 25 hours of commitment. Subtracting the time dedicated to lectures and note-taking for attending students, this equates to approximately 4-6 pages per hour of individual study.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Different assessment methods and evaluation criteria will apply to attending and non-attending students.
To obtain attending status, students must attend at least three fifths of the lectures (12 out of 20).
Attending students will be assessed on the basis of their attendance, completion of two position papers (written in class) and their performance in compulsory written and oral exams. These exams will cover the content of the lectures and the texts indicated in the bibliography section of the syllabus.
Non-attending students will be assessed solely on the basis of compulsory written and oral exams. These will cover only the texts indicated in the bibliography section of the syllabus.
Further information on assessment methods and criteria will be published on the MyAriel course site before the start of the lessons.
To obtain attending status, students must attend at least three fifths of the lectures (12 out of 20).
Attending students will be assessed on the basis of their attendance, completion of two position papers (written in class) and their performance in compulsory written and oral exams. These exams will cover the content of the lectures and the texts indicated in the bibliography section of the syllabus.
Non-attending students will be assessed solely on the basis of compulsory written and oral exams. These will cover only the texts indicated in the bibliography section of the syllabus.
Further information on assessment methods and criteria will be published on the MyAriel course site before the start of the lessons.
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
The professor meets with students weekly, on campus or online. To make an appointment, please contact the professor by email.
On-campus meetings will be held in the professor's office on the second floor of the building overlooking via Passione (room 206). Online meetings will be held through Microsoft Teams.