INT2012 Global Justice
- Course codeINT2012
- Number of credits10
- Teaching semester2026 Spring
- Language of instructionEnglish
- CampusLillehammer
- Required prerequisite knowledge
Recommended prerequisites: We recommend that students taking this course have passed FIL1005 Ethical Theories or INT1014 Politisk teori.
In this course, we analyze global moral challenges of our time and investigate what states and individuals should do in response. Students taking the course for 10 ECTS can follow lectures and submit coursework related to three out of four following topics:
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 outcome:
The student
- knows the central ethical issues and problems raised by three out of four following topics: 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 three out of four following topics: 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
Two very short response papers (approx. 400 words) to be presented in class.
One essay (approx. 1200 words) intended to be preparatory for the exam paper.
Attendance at three seminars.
| Form of assessment | Grading scale | Grouping | Duration of assessment | Support materials | Proportion | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Written assignment | ECTS - A-F | Individual |
| 100% |
At the end of the course students will submit an exam essay, which may be a further development of the written mandatory essay. 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.