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Description
In everyday moral and political arguments appeals to equality are ubiquitous. But what do these appeals amount to? In this course we will attempt to gain a deeper understanding of equality in moral and political thought.
The first part of the course will focus on the idea of moral equality. What grounds all human beings鈥� equal moral status? What does it even mean to say that all human beings are morally equal? Is the moral equality of all people consistent with our favourable treatment of our children, family, and friends? Are non-human animals morally equal to humans?
In the second part of the course, we will focus on the idea of political equality. Specifically, we will consider what the equal status of all citizens implies about how we should distribute power and make political decisions. Does a commitment to the equality of all citizens commit us to democratic rule? If the political decisions made in Community A significantly affect the members of Community B, should the members of Community B have a (democratic?) say in Community A鈥檚 decision? Might this commit us to some form of global democracy?
Philosophy Area B
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Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 19th August 2024.
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