International Morality between Ethical Ideals and Reality - JTM290

• Anglický název: International Morality between Ethical Ideals and Reality
• Zajišťuje: Katedra evropských studií (23-KZS)
• Fakulta: Fakulta sociálních věd
• Platnost: od 2019 do 2019
• Semestr: letní
• E-Kredity: 6
• Způsob provedení zkoušky: letní s.:
• Rozsah, examinace: letní s.:1/1, Zk [HT]
• Počet míst: 15 / neurčen (15)
• Minimální obsazenost: 5
• 4EU+: ne
• Virtuální mobilita / počet míst pro virtuální mobilitu: ne
• Stav předmětu: vyučován
• Jazyk výuky: angličtina
• Způsob výuky: prezenční
• Způsob výuky: prezenční
• Poznámka: předmět je možno zapsat mimo plán; povolen pro zápis po webu
• Garant: prof. Pierre Allan; Mgr. Anna Lukešová; Mgr. Miroslava Pisklová
• Vyučující: prof. Pierre Allan; Mgr. Miroslava Pisklová
• Třída: Courses for incoming students

Anotace

Poslední úprava: Mgr. Vladimír Špína (16.01.2023)

International morality: does such a thing exist ? Aren’t nation-states, even democratic ones, simply ‘cold monsters’ primarily interested in their own power and security ? The answer to both questions is a positive one. Nonetheless, between ethical ideals and realist considerations, not only NGOs, but states, too, act ethically at times. Why ? When ? How ? This course shall discuss these issues and, based on the instructor's research, examine an alternative to the liberal human rights agenda.

Teaching sessions, always 9:00 to 11:50:

1. Thursday February 17 th, 2022;
2. Tuesday February 22 nd ;
3. Thursday March 31 st ;
4. Tuesday April 5 th ;
5. Tuesday May 3 rd ;
6. Thursday May 5 th ;

Tuesday May 10 th ( Question and answer discussion, not compulsory)

Exam date: Tuesday May 12 th , 2022

Cíl předmětu

Poslední úprava: Zuzana Krulichová, M.A. (07.09.2023)

Teaching goals: students will become familiar with concepts and theories helping them to develop their own thoughts about the realities, challenges, and impediments of international morality. They will be encouraged to think deeper about their personal moral ideals and critically evaluate philosophers' thoughts. They will learn how some of these thinkers themselves applied their ethical ideals and what their stories tell us about the nature of moral reasoning and that of ethical behavior.

Podmínky zakončení předmětu

Poslední úprava: Mgr. Vladimír Špína (16.01.2023)

Student work evaluation:

Class attendance and participation: attendance is mandatory, with one unexcused absence tolerated; active participation based on discussions within class including points raised from required readings. Evaluation: 33% of final grade (33 points).

Final oral exam: each student will pick a question (randomly, by picking a number), then will get 15 minutes time to prepare the response, followed by the examination as such. Students will receive the examination day schedule in advance by email. Evaluation: 67% of final grade (67 points).

Grades: max. 100 points

A - 100-91 points

B - 90-81 points

C - 80-71 points

D - 70-61 points

E - 60-51 points

F - 50-0 points

!Updated information on the content of the exam - we did not cover chapters 12 to 14 which will not be part of the exam. That also means you need not read DOYLE, KANT, and RAWLS. I´ve hidden the texts and the chapters from moodle to avoid confusion.!

Literatura

Poslední úprava: Mgr. Vladimír Špína (16.01.2023)

Required readings:

Pierre Allan (2006, 2008), "Measuring International Ethics: A Moral Scale of War, Peace, Justice, and Global Care," in Pierre Allan and Alexis Keller (eds.), What is a Just Peace ?, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 90-129.

Pierre Allan & Alexis Keller (2012), "Is a Just Peace Possible Without Thin and Thick Recognition ?", in Thomas Lindemann & Erik Ringmar (eds.), The Struggle for Recognition in International Politics, Boulder,CO: Paradigm Publishers, pp.71-84.

Stephen T. Asma (2013), Against Fairness, Chicago: Chicago University Press, (Chapter 1 “Even Jesus Had a Favorite”, pp. 1-20/notes 171-3; Chap. 5 “The Circle of Favors: Global Perspectives”, pp. 99-114/notes 187-90; Chap. 7 “Because You're Mine, I Walk the Line”, pp. 151-170/notes 193-6).

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1938), "If I were a Czech", in Harijan, October 15.

Carol Gilligan (1982, 1993), In a Different Voice: Psychological Theory and Women’s Development, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, pp. 24-45, 62-3, 100-5.

David Graeber & David Wengrow (2021), The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity, New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, pp. 1-21 with endnotes 527-531.

Thomas Hobbes (1651), Leviathan, New York: Norton, 1997 (chapter 13: "Of the Natural Condition of Mankind, as concerning their Felicity, and Misery", pp. 68-72.)

Hans Küng (1997), A Global Ethic for Global Politics and Economics, London: SCM Press, (chapter 4: "A Global Ethic as a Foundation for Global Society", pp. 91-113.)

Chenyang Li (1994), "The Confucian Concept of Jen and the Feminist Ethics of Care: A Comparative Study", Hypathia, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 70-89.

Robert W. McElroy (1992), Morality and American Foreign Policy: The Role of Ethics in International Affairs, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press (Chapter 1: "The Debate on Morality and International Relations", pp. 3-29.)

Brian Orend (2006), The Morality of War, Petersborough, Ontario: Broadview Press (Chapter 1: "A Sweeping History of Just War Theory", pp. 9-30.)

Thucydides (431 BC), The Peloponnesian War, extracts (Pericles' funeral oration vs. Melian dialogue, 9 pp.)

Michael Walzer (1994), Thick and Thin: Moral Argument at Home and Abroad, Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, (Chapter 1: "Moral Minimalism", pp. 1-19; Chapter 4: "Justice and Tribalism: Minimal Morality In International Politics", pp. 63-83.)

Max Weber (1919), "Politics as a Vocation", in The Vocation Lectures, Indianapolis: IN: Hackett Publishing Co., pp. 78-92.

Metody výuky

Poslední úprava: Mgr. Vladimír Špína (16.01.2023)

Teaching will take place in person at Staroměstké náměstí 4/1 at Prague Creative Centre, room 222 (U Minuty). 

 

Teaching sessions, always 9:00 to 11:50:

1. Thursday February 17 th, 2022;
2. Tuesday February 22 nd ;
3. Thursday March 31 st ;
4. Tuesday April 5 th ;
5. Tuesday May 3 rd ;
6. Thursday May 5 th ;

Tuesday May 10 th ( Question and answer discussion, not compulsory)

Exam date: Tuesday May 12 th , 2022

 Moodle Course: International Morality between ethical ideals and reality

All readings and presentations will be made available in Moodle during the semester.

!Updated information on the content of the exam - we did not cover chapters 12 to 14 which will not be part of the exam. That also means you need not read DOYLE, KANT, and RAWLS. I´ve hidden the texts and the chapters from moodle to avoid confusion.!

Sylabus

Poslední úprava: Mgr. Anna Lukešová (26.01.2021)

Teaching sessions, always 9:00 to 11:50:

• Thursday February 18^th,, 2021;
• Tuesday February 23^rd;
•  Thursday March 18^th;
• Tuesday March 23^rd;
•  Thursday April 15^th;
• Tuesday April 20^th;

 

 

 

Exam date: Tuesday April 27^th, 2021

 

This subject will take place online due to the pandemic situation.

Online Room at Zoom: https://cesnet.zoom.us/j/92070294986?pwd=UFR5S012VGZ3ZEdYYkRsbE1vNy8vdz09

Meeting ID: 920 7029 4986

Passcode: 087601

 

Moodle Course: International Morality between ethical ideals and reality

 

Teaching Assistance: Anna Lukešová ([e-mail])

 

International relations – and social life – are characterized by dependency and power. While the ideals of Human Rights advocate autonomy and equality, this ideology is fairly recent in history. The ideal it refers to made little sense in earlier epochs and is often violated. I shall argue that a Global Care ethic, based on feminist theory and religious moral consensus, priviledging needs rather than rights, concrete social relations rather than abstract principles of justice, is morally superior to a purely rights based approach. It corresponds to old ethical ideals regulating both the relations between tribes, countries, and nation-states – as well as the relations between humans. My argument: better try to improve the world somewhat, by taking stock of historical rules for acting well (a 'realist' perspective), rather than defining an ideal towards which everyone should strive (an 'idealist' view). Engaging in caring relationships enriches both care givers and care receivers and was present on this globe from the beginning of humankind. Universal ethical rules guiding us through history as well as across cultures exist. They are simple, few in number, and limited. Although such 'thin' ethical precepts are universal, they always apply through a kaleidoscope of local, historic, and thus 'thick' moralities grounded within particular epochs and cultures.