PHIL 170.001 – Liberty, Rights, and Responsibilities: Introduction to Social Ethics and Political Thought

Instructor: Michaela Tiller. This course meets TR 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. in AR 218.

This course considers the institution of government and our relationship to it. From whence do governments obtain their power? What are the limits of this power? Are rights only those granted by government, or do they have some other source? What obligations do governments have to their citizens, and which of these extend to non-citizens? What is justice, and can laws be unjust? What recourse do citizens have against a problematic government? All of these questions will be discussed in this course. Readings will include both historical and contemporary texts.