Poslední úprava: Bc. Veronika Kučabová (20.12.2022)
This course proposes to apply philosophical thinking and ethical theories to some of the most
pressing problems confronting contemporary society: Against the background of growing
populism and ever more interconnected global communities, how should we navigate the
dynamics between nationalism and globalism? What moral claims do migrants have, and what
are states’ rights and obligations in relation thereto? What challenges persist in women’s rights
movements across the globe, and how can we meet them? What do we owe the environment and
non-human animals? Can political revolutions and civil disobedience be justified? This course
will present perspectives from all sides of such questions in a fair and balanced manner,
encouraging students to encounter new ideas, question preconceptions, and engage carefully and
critically with sensitive and important matters.
Poslední úprava: Bc. Veronika Kučabová (20.12.2022)
This course proposes to apply philosophical thinking and ethical theories to some of the most
pressing problems confronting contemporary society: Against the background of growing
populism and ever more interconnected global communities, how should we navigate the
dynamics between nationalism and globalism? What moral claims do migrants have, and what
are states’ rights and obligations in relation thereto? What challenges persist in women’s rights
movements across the globe, and how can we meet them? What do we owe the environment and
non-human animals? Can political revolutions and civil disobedience be justified? This course
will present perspectives from all sides of such questions in a fair and balanced manner,
encouraging students to encounter new ideas, question preconceptions, and engage carefully and
critically with sensitive and important matters.
Cíl předmětu -
Poslední úprava: Bc. Veronika Kučabová (20.12.2022)
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
• Explicate and critically analyze the complexities of a variety of issues.
• Synthesize and contextualize myriad and sometimes [seemingly] disparate ideas and
themes.
• Understand how to deconstruct and formulate philosophical arguments.
• Conduct sound academic research.
• Reflect upon the deeper meaning of texts and how they relate to subjects beyond
circumscribed fields
Poslední úprava: Bc. Veronika Kučabová (20.12.2022)
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
• Explicate and critically analyze the complexities of a variety of issues.
• Synthesize and contextualize myriad and sometimes [seemingly] disparate ideas and
themes.
• Understand how to deconstruct and formulate philosophical arguments.
• Conduct sound academic research.
• Reflect upon the deeper meaning of texts and how they relate to subjects beyond
circumscribed fields
Sylabus -
Poslední úprava: Bc. Veronika Kučabová (20.12.2022)
Introductory Class:
Week 1: General Introduction, Discussion on Bias and the Principle of Charity
Topic I: Nationalism
Week 1: Yael Tamir, “Part I: The Return of History,” in Why Nationalism?, pp. 3-40.
Week 2: Martha Nussbaum, “Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism”
Topic II: Migration
Week 3: David Miller, “Immigration: The Case for Limits”
Week 4: Kieran Oberman, “Immigration as a Human Right,” in Migration in Political Theory,
pp. 32-53.
Topic III: Environmentalism
Week 5: Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, “It’s not My Fault: Global Warming and Individual
Responsibility,” in Climate Ethics: Essential Readings, pp. 332-344.
Week 6: Thomas E. Hill Jr., “Ideals of Human Excellence and Preserving Natural Environments”
Topic IV: Animal Rights
Week 7: Timothy Hsiao, “In Defense of Eating Meat,” in The Journal of Agricultural and
Environmental Ethics, pp. 277-291.
Week 8: Peter Singer, “All Animals Are Equal,” in Animal Liberation, pp. 28 - 57.
Topic V: Women’s Rights
Week 9: Leila Ahmed, “The Veil Debate-Again,” in Feminist Theory Reader: Local and
Global Perspectives, pp. 556-575.
Week 10: Marnia Lazreg, “Letter Five: Why Women Should Not Wear the Veil,” in Questioning
the Veil: Open Letters to Muslim Women, pp. 97-131.
Topic VI: Revolution
Week 11: Immanuel Kant, “On the common saying: That may be correct in theory, but it is of no
use in practice” in Practical Philosophy, pp. 273 - 310.
Week 12: Henry David Thoreau, “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience”
Poslední úprava: Bc. Veronika Kučabová (20.12.2022)
Introductory Class:
Week 1: General Introduction, Discussion on Bias and the Principle of Charity
Topic I: Nationalism
Week 1: Yael Tamir, “Part I: The Return of History,” in Why Nationalism?, pp. 3-40.
Week 2: Martha Nussbaum, “Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism”
Topic II: Migration
Week 3: David Miller, “Immigration: The Case for Limits”
Week 4: Kieran Oberman, “Immigration as a Human Right,” in Migration in Political Theory,
pp. 32-53.
Topic III: Environmentalism
Week 5: Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, “It’s not My Fault: Global Warming and Individual
Responsibility,” in Climate Ethics: Essential Readings, pp. 332-344.
Week 6: Thomas E. Hill Jr., “Ideals of Human Excellence and Preserving Natural Environments”
Topic IV: Animal Rights
Week 7: Timothy Hsiao, “In Defense of Eating Meat,” in The Journal of Agricultural and
Environmental Ethics, pp. 277-291.
Week 8: Peter Singer, “All Animals Are Equal,” in Animal Liberation, pp. 28 - 57.
Topic V: Women’s Rights
Week 9: Leila Ahmed, “The Veil Debate-Again,” in Feminist Theory Reader: Local and
Global Perspectives, pp. 556-575.
Week 10: Marnia Lazreg, “Letter Five: Why Women Should Not Wear the Veil,” in Questioning
the Veil: Open Letters to Muslim Women, pp. 97-131.
Topic VI: Revolution
Week 11: Immanuel Kant, “On the common saying: That may be correct in theory, but it is of no
use in practice” in Practical Philosophy, pp. 273 - 310.
Week 12: Henry David Thoreau, “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience”
Podmínky zakončení předmětu -
Poslední úprava: Bc. Veronika Kučabová (20.12.2022)
Examination
Students will be assessed on two essays of approximately 1,500 words each. The first will be due
at mid-term and should pertain to any of the topics having been covered up to that point in the
course. The second will be due at the end of the term and should pertain to any of the topics
covered since mid-term. Papers should be formatted according to academic standards (MLA,
APA, CMS). Late submissions of coursework will be capped at the minimum passing grade.
Course Policies
As class discussions are an indispensable component of the course, attendance is important.
Reasonable accommodations may be made in exceptional circumstances, but please
communicate any foreseeable absences or complications as much in advance as possible
Poslední úprava: Bc. Veronika Kučabová (20.12.2022)
Examination
Students will be assessed on two essays of approximately 1,500 words each. The first will be due
at mid-term and should pertain to any of the topics having been covered up to that point in the
course. The second will be due at the end of the term and should pertain to any of the topics
covered since mid-term. Papers should be formatted according to academic standards (MLA,
APA, CMS). Late submissions of coursework will be capped at the minimum passing grade.
Course Policies
As class discussions are an indispensable component of the course, attendance is important.
Reasonable accommodations may be made in exceptional circumstances, but please
communicate any foreseeable absences or complications as much in advance as possible
Studijní opory -
Poslední úprava: Bc. Veronika Kučabová (20.12.2022)
Required Texts
Ahmed, Leila. “The Veil Debate-Again.” In Feminist Theory Reader: Local and Global
Perspectives, edited by Carole R. McCann and Seung-Kyung Kim, 556-575. New York:
Routledge, 2017.
Hill Jr., Thomas E. “Ideals of Human Excellence and Preserving Natural Environments.”
Environmental Ethics 5, no. 3 (1983): 214-224.
Hsiao, Timothy. “In Defense of Eating Meat.” Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics
28, (2015): 277-291.
Kant, Immanuel. “On the Common Saying: That May Be Correct in Theory, But It Is of No Use
in Practice.” In Practical Philosophy. Translated and edited by Mary J. Gregor, 273-310.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999.
Lazreg, Marnia. Questioning the Veil: Open Letters to Muslim Women. Princeton: Princeton
University Press, 2009.
Miller, David. “Immigration: The Case for Limits.” In Contemporary Debates in Applied Ethics,
edited by Andrew I. Cohen and Christopher Heath Wellman, 363-375. West Sussex: John
Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2014.
Nussbaum, Martha. “Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism.” Boston Review, 1 October 1994.
