SEMINAR IN ETHICS: JUSTICE

HNRS 459

HARDING UNIVERSITY

Spring 2012

TR       10:00-11:15       MCIN 125

 

Instructors: Dr. P. Garner and Dr. K. Stanglin

Office phone: 279-4635 (PG), 279-4620 (KS)

Email: pgarner@harding.edu  kstanglin@harding.edu

Website: www.harding.edu/kstanglin

Office hours: PG: TBA. KS: MCIN 209, 10:00-12:00, 2:00-3:30 (MWF)

 

We want you to do well in this course, so please let us know if you are having difficulty with the class material.

Office hours, phone, and email should suffice for class business. 

 

Course Description:

This course in moral theology explores the theme of justice from biblical, theological, and philosophical perspectives.

 

Course Objectives:

In light of the university’s mission and objectives, the student who successfully completes this course will be able to:

1. articulate the biblical and theological foundations and the major philosophical approaches, both religious and secular, to the implementation of justice in society.

2. apply directly those tenets of justice as a rubric through which they can evaluate contemporary social issues.

3. analyze and evaluate their own rubric(s) of justice with regard to contemporary social issues.

 

Required Course Textbooks:

Texts: There will be three primary texts: Old Testament Ethics for the People of God by C. J. H. Wright, Justice by Michael Sandel, and the Bible. There will be references to numerous other materials to be determined later.

 

Attendance Policy:

Students are expected to attend classes regularly.  In the event of illness, family emergency, a school-sponsored activity, or an extenuating circumstance, it is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor as soon as possible of the reason for the absence.  With regard to excuses, I defer to the criteria set by Academic Affairs.  A doctor’s note is required for excusing personal illness.  Print a hard copy for my records.  N.B.: Excuses will not be accepted more than one week after returning to class.

 

The official policy of COBR states that the equivalent of one week of unexcused absences (2) is allowed in this class.  Each additional absence above 2 automatically reduces your final grade by 4.5 percentage points.  Anyone accumulating 6 unexcused absences will be dropped from the course with a “WF” (withdrawn, failing).

 

You will be considered tardy if you are not present when the roll is checked or if you leave during class.  3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence.  If you are tardy, it is your responsibility to make sure you were not counted absent.  But if you come in more than 10 minutes late, or leave before the end of class without telling me why, you will be counted absent, and will not be allowed to take the test or quiz.  Take care of all business before and after class.

 

Students with Disabilities:

It is the policy for Harding University to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal and state law.  Therefore, any student with a documented disability condition (e.g., physical, learning, psychological, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations, must contact the instructor and the Disabilities Office at the beginning of each semester.  (If the diagnosis of the disability occurs during the academic year, the student must self-identify with the Disabilities Director as soon as possible in order to get academic accommodations in place for the remainder of the semester.)  The Disabilities Office is located in Room 102 of the Lee Academic Center, telephone, (501) 279-4019.

 

Assessment:

Harding University, since its charter in 1924, has been strongly committed to providing the best resources and environment for the teaching-learning process. The board, administration, faculty, and staff are wholeheartedly committed to full compliance with all criteria of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The university values continuous, rigorous assessment at every level for its potential to improve student learning and achievement and for its centrality in fulfilling the stated mission of Harding. Thus, a comprehensive assessment program has been developed that includes both the Academic units and the Administrative and Educational Support (AES) units. Specifically, all academic units will be assessed in reference to the following Expanded Statement of Institutional Purpose: The University provides programs that enable students to acquire essential knowledge, skills, and dispositions in their academic disciplines for successful careers, advanced studies, and servant leadership.

 

Academic Honesty:

Harding University places a high priority on honesty and a biblical commitment to truth.  Incidents of cheating, plagiarism, or any other activities deemed dishonest will result in penalties.  These penalties may range from receiving a zero (0%) on the assignment to failing the course or dismissal from the school.  (According to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, to “plagiarize” is to steal and use as one’s own the ideas, words, etc., of another.  Collaborating on written assignments that should be done individually would fall under this category of dishonesty.  See also the definitions and descriptions in the catalog or student handbook.)

 

Classroom Expectations and Decorum:

We expect your best effort and cooperation.  We also expect all students to behave in a Christian manner in and out of the classroom.  Appropriate behavior includes abiding by the conduct and dress codes set by the university.  Turn off all cell phones.  We do not want to see them.  Do not eat food in the classroom. Only drinks in spill-proof containers are allowed in class.  If you make a mess, it is your responsibility to clean it up or pay for it to be cleaned.

 

If it looks to us like you are sleeping, texting, or doing other work in class, we will ask you to leave and it will be counted as an unexcused absence. 

 

You may use laptops for taking notes only.  If you use a laptop, you must sit on the front row.

 

Class will begin promptly when the bell rings, so be ready. 

 

Course Requirements:

1. Each student should carefully read the entire text of Sandel before Thursday of Week 2 and the entire text of Wright by or before the time indicated in the course outline.  The student is responsible for all the information in the readings.  On the final exam, you will be asked to sign a statement indicating how much you actually read.

 

Be prepared to discuss and answer questions about the material in class.  Your daily, individual participation in class discussion (which includes reading aloud and offering relevant questions and thoughtful responses) will be a factor in determining the final grade.

 

2. Each student will write a position paper on each contemporary issue discussed in class.  The student will also give a polished, 10- to 15-minute presentation of the material, and must be ready to engage the concerns of the respondents.  The paper/presentation must address the chosen topic from various theological and/or philosophical ethical perspectives, as well as defend a particular perspective and show its practical implications.  The paper must be turned in to the instructors and the respondents one week before the oral presentation.  The paper will serve as a basis for in-class discussion. 

            Choose three topics that are relevant to the course textbooks and material.  Turn in your topics by Thursday of Week 2.  You will be assigned a topic and date the following week.

 

3. Each student will be required to respond to two position papers throughout the semester.  The thoughtful response must be delivered in a 5- to 6-minute oral presentation immediately following the position paper.  Although it may include some positive praise, the response should primarily note areas for clarification and critique, as well as push back by asking challenging questions.  Your role is that of advocatus diaboli.  You will be informed of your assignments after the main topics are assigned.

 

4. Final exam.  Thursday, 8-10 a.m.

 

Course Outline:

Unit one: Philosophical and theological discussions of justice.  Read Sandel.

Unit two: Ecology and the Earth

  1. Biblical point of departure.  A good creation now groaning (e.g., Genesis 1-3; Romans 8:19-22).
  2. Contemporary topics to be discussed will include pollution, robotic infantry, animal testing, knock out pain, genetic manipulation, and the effects of various economic systems.

Unit three: Economics and the poor

  1. Biblical point of departure.  Just balances and a theology of generosity (e.g., Leviticus 19; 2 Corinthians 8-9).
  2. Contemporary topics include the lottery, capitalism vs. socialism, and personal financial obligations.

Unit four: The land and Christian ethics

  1. Biblical point of departure.  “All things were common property to them” (e.g., Acts 4:32).
  2. Contemporary topics include private property, eminent domain.

Unit five: Politics and nations

  1. Biblical point of departure.  Two kingdoms (e.g., Daniel 2; Romans 13); pray for the rulers (e.g., 1 Timothy 2:1-2).
  2. Contemporary topics include governmental systems, political activism, war, the volunteer army and pacifism.

Unit six: Justice and Righteousness

  1. Biblical point of departure.  Justice: what the Lord requires (e.g., Micah 6:8).
  2. Contemporary topics include price gouging, financial bailouts, corporate and athletic salary structures.

Unit seven: Law and legal system

  1. Biblical point of departure.  Two laws (e.g., Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 6:1-11).
  2. Contemporary topics include victimless crimes, giving drugs to addicts.

Unit eight: Culture and family

  1. Biblical point of departure.  Husband, wife, and children (e.g., Genesis 1-2; Matthew 19:3-12; Eph. 5:21–6:4).
  2. Contemporary topics include: “day after” pill, abortion, same sex marriage, polygamy; surrogacy.

Unit nine: The way of the individual

  1. Biblical point of departure.  The Golden Rule and two love commands (e.g., Matthew 7:12; 22:36-40).
  2. Some contemporary issues include physician assisted suicide, libertarianism, the Golden Rule.

 

For most of the semester, in general, Tuesdays will be devoted to discussing Wright, and Thursdays will focus on contemporary applications, case studies, and student presentations. 

 

Guest lecturers: It is anticipated that some guests will be invited to lecture on salient topics throughout the semester. 

 

Scheduling Matters:

a) John Walton will be speaking in COBR.  Tuesday, Jan. 31.  Times TBA.

b) Tri-state Philosophy Symposium, Hendrix College.  Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 11-12. 

c) “Rethinking Arminius: Wesleyan and Reformed Theology for the Church Today” Conference.  Friday-Saturday, Feb. 24-25. 

d) Society of Christian Philosophers Conference, “The Virtue of Justice.”  Held at Hendrix College. http://www.hendrix.edu/philosophy/philosophy.aspx?id=13746  Thursday-Saturday, Mar. 22-24. 

 

 

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY

Blomberg, Craig. Neither Poverty nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Material Possessions. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Ethics. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, 6. Trans. Ilse Tödt and Ernst Feil. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2005.

Dorr, Donal. Spirituality and Justice. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1984.

Hare, John. Why Bother Being Good? The Place of God in the Moral Life. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2002.

Hauerwas, Stanley and Samuel Wells. The Blackwell Companion to Christian Ethics. Oxford: Blackwell, 2004.

Hays, Richard B. The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation; A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament Ethics. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1996.

Miller, Patrick D. The Ten Commandments. Interpretation. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009.

Rae, Scott B. Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.

Sandel, Michael J. Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2009.

Sandel, Michael J., ed. Justice: A Reader. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Smedes, Lewis B. Mere Morality: What God Expects from Ordinary People. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983.

Weinfeld, Moshe. Social Justice in Ancient Israel and in the Ancient Near East. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995.

Witherington, Ben, III. The Indelible Image: The Theological and Ethical Thought World of the New Testament. 2 vols. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2009–10.

Wogaman, J. Philip. Moral Dilemmas: An Introduction to Christian Ethics. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009.

Wolterstorff, Nicholas. Justice in Love. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011.

            . Justice: Rights and Wrongs. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008.

Wright, Christopher J. H. Old Testament Ethics for the People of God. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2004.