INT1020 Global Justice
- Course codeINT1020
- Number of credits15
- Teaching semester2026 Spring
- Language of instructionEnglish
- CampusLillehammer
- Required prerequisite knowledge
None
In this course, we analyze global moral challenges of our time and investigate what states and individuals should do in response. The course is usually divided into four parts:
War and terrorism
- Can war be defended morally, if so, under what conditions?
- Is nuclear deterrence morally justified?
Poverty and inequality
- How much should prosperous states and individuals sacrifice to fight poverty?
- Should we have different ideals for fair distribution of wealth within countries and between countries?
Migration and refugees
- What rules should regulate the movement of people across national borders?
- What is the difference between a migrant and a refugee, and is it morally relevant?
Climate justice
- Who should pay the cost of slowing and mitigating climate change?
- Should climate refugees be recognized as a separate category - and do certain states bear greater responsibility for receiving these?
Learning Outcome
Upon passing the course, the student has achieved the following learning outcomes:
The student
- knows the central ethical issues and problems raised by war, poverty, migration and climate
- knows the prominent theories and arguments to address these problems
- is familiar with selected classical texts that addresses these issues
- is familiar with a variety of analytical methods used in moral philosophy and political theory
- knows how to independently expand and update their knowledge in these areas
The student
- can explain central problems and debates in political theory and moral philosophy to analyze ethical dilemmas related to war, poverty, migration and climate
- can discuss and evaluate different solutions to these problems in a critical and analytic manner
- can articulate and defend their own viewpoints and positions regarding these problems
- can apply their knowledge of moral philosophy and political theory to other (professional and public) debates
- can adjust their professional practice in response to feedback and supervision
- can orient themselves in the relevant literature, both primary and secondary, and follow standard professional norms of attribution and reference
- can write an argumentative essay on a chosen topic in moral philosophy and political theory
The student:
- understands how issues from moral philosophy and political philosophy are present both in concrete everyday situations and in larger questions about the value and development of society
- can analyze philosophical texts and evaluate philosophical arguments.
- can write academic essays on complex issues
- can plan and carry out independent academic work
- can discuss complex problems, both orally and in writing
- is familiar with novel ideas and innovation processes in philosophy
- can evaluate normative arguments
Four mandatory written pieces of coursework covering each of the four course topics. The three first pieces are shorter (length to be determined in class) exercises or response papers to be presented and defended in class. The fourth essay is a longer paper that is intended to be preparatory for the exam essay.
| Form of assessment | Grading scale | Grouping | Duration of assessment | Support materials | Proportion | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portfolio Assessment | ECTS - A-F |
At the end of the course, the student will submit a portfolio (“mappeeksamen”) for evaluation. The portfolio will consist of an exam essay, which often, but not necessarily, will be a further development of the third written mandatory requirement.
The length of the exam essay will be announced at the beginning of class
Grading according to ECTS-system on scale A-E for passed and F for failed.