Differences, inequalities and the politics of law

The course aims at introducing students to the philosophical theory of justice, by analysing two normative ideas distinctive of the shared political culture of Western political communities, that is, the idea of the equal political status of all the members of the political community and the idea of their basic right to an equal treatment, understood - following Ronald Dworkin's analysis - in terms of equal concern and equal respect. In analysing these ideas, the course will consider their implications as regards States' responsibility to respect and protect individual differences and to prevent or redress unjust social inequalities.

At the end of the course students should have acquired:
- knowledge of the main positions in the current philosophical debate on justice and a better understanding of some normative ideas, including equal citizenships, equal concern, equal respect, equal opportunity, democratic equality, personal freedom, toleration, neutrality, pluralism, and socioeconomic justice;
- capability to apply acquired knowledge and understanding to the analysis and discussion of public controversies about the kind of legislation and public policy that States should adopt in order to fulfill their responsibility to respect and protect individual differences and to prevent or redress unjust social inequalities.
Students will be required to read texts, to discuss them and to elaborate personal opinions in order to exercise their learning, critical and communication skills.