Abstract
The focus of the seminar is the colloquial reconstruction, interpretation, and discussion of Rawls’ Theory of Justice. This final session is dedicated to the discussion of important challenges in practical application and critical responses of other philosophers to Rawls Theory. The work during the session is organized in a think-pair-share-sequence: Under the question “How would (or could) Rawls respond?”. Every student works alone on one of five selected challenges; in the pairing phase, the students present their challenges to each other and discuss their subsequent thoughts about it. In the sharing phase, every pair presents at least one of its challenges in a plenary discussion. After the discussion of each challenge, the question is raised whether the arguments of the challenging party or those of the defendant Rawls were more convincing.
Timescale
One lecture (approximately 90 minutes)
Key Terms
John Rawls
Key competences / Learning outcomes
- A deeper understanding of Rawls theory and the ability to transfer its arguments to another context by:
- variating the original theory in defending it towards different challenges
- critically reflecting on possible limits and weaknesses of the theory
- evaluation Rawls specific approach to the subject of justice as one philosophical possibility among others
