PHIL 3230 First Assignment Topic and Instructions

Assignment Overview

• Course: NET + PHIL 3230 Theories of Justice

• Weight: 25% of final grade

• Due Date: February 12, 2025, by 11:59 PM

• Assignment Type: Written Argumentative Essay

• Word Count: 2000 words

Main Argument

• Philosopher: Naomi Zack

• Thesis: Philosophical theories of justice have serious shortcomings in enacting justice in modern societies due to their lack of practical application.

• Proposed Solution: Creation of new foundations in theory that study injustices for correction and redress, termed "injustice theory."

• Methodology: "Applicative justice" which utilizes comparative methods to transition from injustice to justice.

Scope of Essay

• Focus Areas:

  • Race

  • Disability

  • Cultural identity

  • Gender-based injustices

• Task: Write an argumentative essay evaluating the efficiency of Zack's "injustice theory" as a tool for enacting justice.

Formatting Guidelines

• Sources: Use only course readings; external resources allowed only with TA approval.

• File Format: Submit as a Word document only (no PDFs).

• Formatting Requirements:

  • Double-spaced

  • 12-point Times New Roman font

  • Consecutively numbered pages

• Citation Style: Adhere to the author-date system from the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition:

  • In-text citations format: (Author Year, Page)

  • Works Cited in chronological order

• Examples of citations:

  • Single author: (Davis 1977)

  • Two authors: (Chang and Williams 1985, 13)

  • Three authors: (Fulcher, Hernandez, and Spikes 1974)

  • More than three authors: (Rashid et al. 1993)

Notes on Writing Style

• Voice: Use first-person pronouns allowed.

• References: Do not use lecture notes as references.
  
  

Thesis: Philosophical theories of justice exhibit significant shortcomings in addressing gender-based injustices in contemporary societies, primarily due to their failure to translate theoretical ideals into practical applications. This critique underscores the urgent need for theoretical frameworks that prioritize the unique experiences and challenges faced by marginalized women, ensuring that philosophical discourse actively engages with the tangible realities of gender inequity and works towards meaningful social change.

Background section:

• Gender-based injustices pervade various dimensions of society, manifesting in disparities in rights, opportunities, and socio-economic conditions for women, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds such as women of color, women with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ women. These inequalities persist within the foundations of philosophical theories of justice, which struggle to address the complexities of lived realities experienced by different groups of women.

• Gender-Based Injustices: These refer to the systematic and pervasive inequalities that arise out of one’s gender identity, often exacerbated by intersectional factors such as race, class, and disability. Addressing gender-based injustice requires understanding these complexities and striving for an inclusive approach that encompasses diverse experiences.

• Philosophical Theories of Justice: Traditionally, these theories have revolved around notions of fairness, rights, and moral principles, often outlined in ideal terms without practical considerations. The works of philosophers like John Rawls highlight the importance of justice as fairness but often fall short of providing practical solutions to real-world gender injustices.

• Applicative Justice: This concept advocates for theories that effectively translate abstract ideals into actionable frameworks aimed at addressing immediate injustices faced by marginalized groups, specifically women in this context.

• Current Trends in Literature

• The literature surrounding gender-based justice has been expanding, with significant critiques highlighting the inadequacies of traditional theories in acknowledging intersecting forms of oppression. Scholars like Naomi Zack emphasize the necessity for frameworks rooted in practical applicability and grounded in the lived experiences of women. This shift is evident in feminist theory and critical race theory, which advocate for a more inclusive understanding that considers race, gender identity, and socio-economic status as interconnected rather than isolated issues.

• Necessary Contextual Information

• To provide a well-rounded understanding, it is essential to examine how societal structures, such as neoliberalism, impact gender-based injustices. Neoliberal policies tend to prioritize market logic over human welfare, exacerbating disparities by shifting the burden of care and well-being to individuals rather than systemic structures. This dynamic often influences how gender-based injustices manifest in various settings, reinforcing the need for philosophical theories to evolve and engage with contemporary challenges.

• Necessary Contextual Information

• To provide a well-rounded understanding, it is essential to examine how societal structures, such as neoliberalism, impact gender-based injustices. Neoliberal policies tend to prioritize market logic over human welfare, exacerbating disparities by shifting the burden of care and well-being to individuals rather than systemic structures. This dynamic often influences how gender-based injustices manifest in various settings, reinforcing the need for philosophical theories to evolve and engage with contemporary challenges.

Thesis: Philosophical theories of justice exhibit significant shortcomings in addressing gender-based injustices in contemporary societies, primarily due to their failure to translate theoretical ideals into practical applications. This critique underscores the urgent need for theoretical frameworks that prioritize the unique experiences and challenges faced by marginalized women, ensuring that philosophical discourse actively engages with the tangible realities of gender inequity and works towards meaningful social change.

Background Section:

• Marginalization of women/ disparities in rights, opportunities, etc.

• Intersectionality 

• Societal structures, neoliberalism, ideal vs. non ideal (John Rawls)

• What is applicative justice (Naomi Zack)

First Body Section: Theoretical Limitation in Addressing Gender Based Injustices

• Subtopic 1: ideal theory and its shortcomings

• Subtopic 2: The necessity for intersectionality

• Incorporate neoliberalism and overall just critique non applicative theories of justice in this section

Second Body Section: The Need for Applicative Justice Frameworks

• Subtopic 1: Immediacy of injustice and the need of theory to practice

• Subtopic 2: Importance of comparative analysis to highlight injustices

• Subtopic 3: Need for inclusive political philosophy (diverse voices)

• In this section really focus on why applicative justice theory is superior to non applicative theories of justice