Philosophy MA/BSc/MA(SocSci)
Distributive Justice PHIL4054
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Humanities
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
- Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course introduces students to some major contemporary theories of distributive justice. It allows them to scrutinize, compare, and assess those theories, and to consider their application to questions of intra- and international institutional design.
Timetable
16x1hr lectures; 4x1hr seminars over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in Philosophy and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
The standard assessments for this course are:
■ Exam (90 minutes) - 40%
■ Essay (2000 words) - 40%
■ Short written piece (1000 words) - 20%
If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:
■ There are no alternatives to the exam, but extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustment.
■ There are no alternatives to the essay and written piece, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions).
Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor. 
Main Assessment In: April/May
Course Aims
This course aims to:
■ Familiarize students with the philosophical study of contemporary theories of distributive justice, including different varieties of egalitarianism, libertarianism, sufficientarianism and prioritarianism, and different views concerning the proper currency of distributive justice;
■ Develop students' ability to criticise and develop their own theories of distributive justice;
■ Apply both established and students' own views on distributive justice to questions of intra- and international institutional design.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
■ Explain the content of a number of contemporary theories of distributive justice, including different varieties of egalitarianism, libertarianism, sufficientarianism and prioritarianism, and different views concerning the proper currency of distributive justice;
■ Compare and evaluate these theories;
■ Apply these theories to real-world political and economic policies and institutions;
■ Communicate their own political philosophical ideas and arguments clearly and effectively.