Wetenschapsfilosofie

After participating in Pursuing Social Justice the student is able to:

1. Reproduce, analyze and compare different theories of social justice  (learning outcome 1a).
2. Apply theories of social justice to contemporary social problems (learning outcomes 2a, 2b).
3. Formulate an informed view on contemporary debates on social justice and social problems that is based on academic knowledge and personal reflection (learning outcomes 3a).
4. Communicate one’s acquired insights on social justice on an academic level, both in oral and written form (learning outcomes 4a). 

Academic education

This course provides a contribution to political-philosophical and sociological academic training. Students learn about theories of social justice and associated concepts of redistribution, recognition and representation. The course discusses the historical (and spatial) embedding of these concepts and the academic discussion regarding the relationship between the different concepts. In addition, they learn to apply the lens of social justice to various contemporary social problems, creating space to critically evaluate the theory itself. The written assignments (and formative feedback) enable students to develop their academic writing skills.

Professional education

The course gives students a lens and a language to recognise various injustices in their (future) professional practices and organisations. Students are invited to apply and think about the three concepts of maldistribution/redistribution, (mis)recognition and (mis)representation in relation to their internship.

World-view

The course requires students to reflect on their own (personal or professional) experiences regarding the theme of social justice. What is their position in the world, how can they reflect on their social position in a world that is under pressure in various ways and what is their role in combating social injustice and promoting social justice?

Format

There is a mixed format with lectures, guest lectures and tutorials. The participation of students includes individual tasks, group work, peer review and self-study.

Brief explanation of cohesion with other courses

This course builds on Hum1-60 where critical reflection on policy and organisations stand central. The course provides a firm basis of social justice thinking that will continue to be developed throughout the 2nd and 3rd year of the Master, for example, Transitional Justice and Human Rights and Humanistic practices in a Globalizing world.

Relation with humanistic chaplaincy

The course provides students with a firm basis of social justice-seeing and thinking, which is a fundamental part of any chaplaincy practice. It enables future chaplains to understand their work within the context of larger (social, economic, political) structures, power differences and inequalities. By asking students to share their own personal and professional experiences on a weekly basis, they practice identifying social justice issues in everyday life (e.g. inequality, discrimination, misrecognition, inadequate representation of certain groups and types of knowledge, etc.).