Philosophy, Democracy, Inequality
Teens and Adults
Tuesdays, 6:00 – 9:00pm
The fundamental equality of human beings is among the basic commitments of the Declaration of Independence. And yet, by many key measures, citizens believe that the level of inequality in the US is far greater than it should be. This course addresses the questions: What do we mean when we describe people as equals? What sorts of equality are there? What forms of equality are required for a just society? What sorts of inequality are compatible with justice? In this course, we will study these questions by considering accounts of the degree and causes of contemporary economic inequality, of the nature political equality, of the relation between markets and inequality, and of the relation between equality and freedom. We will read texts from John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Adam Smith, Karl Marx, John Rawls, Robert Nozick, Thomas Piketty, and Elizabeth Anderson.
- Session: 4 weeks (June 26 – July 24, 2018; No class July 3)
- Class Size: Minimum of 5 students required to run the class; no more than 20 students enrolled.
- More Information: Scholarship opportunities available. Download a copy of the application here.
- How to Register: Visit the course page on the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research website to register.
About the Instructor: Timothy Brownlee
Timothy L. Brownlee holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Humanities from Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada). He is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio). His research focuses on German idealism, in particular the writings of G.W.F. Hegel, 19th and 20th century European philosophy, and social and political philosophy. He has published a number of articles on German idealism and political philosophy. He is currently at work on a book on the role of recognition in Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit.
