PHIL2020: Theories of Social JusticeTake-‐home Exam. 9:30 am, 11 Nov; 24 hoursExam task: Write an essay that addresses the following four questions. Wordlimit: 1700 +/-‐10%(excluding footnotes, headings, and bibliography)It is an essay, rather than answers to separate questions,in the sense that it should read as a cohesive piece, where each section builds on the previous ones. It will be assessed as a whole. No introduction is required—dive straight into the questions. Conclusion isn’t required either—just make sure you have clear answers within each subsection.
1.What do you think are the correct principles of justice?
•State them and offer an argument in their support. Make it clear what these principles regulate (for example,the distribution of what?).
•Defend these principles against ONE objection a philosopher we’ve studied in the course could make.(Note: you will need to commit to the view you articulate in this section for the rest of the essay—this is what justice is according to you. You may side with an existing view, offer a synthesis of different views, or propose an original view).
2.Relying on your principles of justice, analyze a social injustice in Australia or a country of your choice. •What does the injustice consist in? (how are your principles violated and by what structures?)
•What institutional change would address the injustice and how?
3.Drawing on the course content, discuss civil disobedience OR democratic process (choose one OR the other) as a means to bringing about the institutional change you proposed in (2).
•Do you think it(civil disobedience or democratic process)would succeed/fail in bringing about the required change? Explain how and why.
•If you’re talking about civil disobedience, explain why it’s morally permissible/impermissible in this specific case.
4.In light of the above, what are YOU morally required to do about the injustice in question and why? (discuss one activity/action,drawing on the course content).
•Explain the moral grounds for this duty. Assume you’re a citizen living in the country of the injustice.For example, you could talk about how and why you ought to participate in the democratic process or civil disobedience discussed in (3), or perhaps why you should do something else(including nothing)instead.
