Course Home Page for Rescue, Charity and Justice

Fall 2009
Law No.: LAW7076
Sched. No.: 109835613

Rescue, Charity And Justice
Section 1
X
Simmons, Alan J.

Administrative Information:

Days, Times (Room):	TR, 1410-1530 (SL258)
Credits:	3	Type:	Lecture
Capacity:	15^{This information is current as of}^{11/24/2009 06:49:08 AM}^
Current Enrollment:	13 ^{This information is current as of}^{11/24/2009 06:49:08 AM}^

Course Description:

This course will explore the nature and the implications of the positive duties we owe to others (that is, the duties we have to positively assist others, not merely to refrain from directly harming them). Some deny that we have any positive moral duties at all and/or argue that legal and political institutions should never enforce such duties. Those who accept positive moral duties take a variety of positions on both the nature and extent of such duties and on the question of the acceptability of institutional enforcement of them. Theorists distinguish duties of rescue (duties to give aid to the imperiled in emergency situations), duties of charity (duties to assist in the longer-term project of providing others with the resources for living decent lives), and duties of justice (duties to help bring about a just – and, typically, a more equal – distribution of resources, both within and between societies). The course will consider possible philosophical foundations for such duties and arguments for and against creating or preserving positive legal duties. We will undertake substantial examinations of legal duties of rescue (“Good Samaritan laws”) and purported national moral and legal duties to aid impoverished countries or peoples. Readings will be primarily contemporary, drawn from legal theory and from moral and political philosophy.

COURSE REQUIREMENT: Examination or a substantial research paper at student's option