PHIL 391: Special Topics in Philosophy

PHIL 391-002: Mgrnts, Refugees & Hlth Jstice
(Fall 2019)

04:30 PM to 07:10 PM T

West Building 1001

Section Information for Fall 2019

Fall 2019 Topic: Migrants, Refugees and Global Health Justice

In this class, we will examine the implications for health and justice that arise after people are forced to leave their homes and travel toward – and often never reach – destination countries where they hope to claim asylum and be granted refugee status.

We will start by exploring the ethical significance of health and the meaning of health justice, and from there, examine what is owed to the unprecedented numbers of displaced people around the world as they make their journey; when they are “settled” in camps or other environs, often for generations; when they arrive at borders; while their asylum claims are being processed; and in cases where asylum is granted, as they try to make their homes in destination countries.

Next, we will consider who should be responsible for upholding health justice for displaced people and on what possible grounds. Specifically, students in the course will learn:

  1. different views on the ethical significance of health and meaning of health justice;
  2. the roots of global health inequities;
  3. different accounts of global justice and how best to assign responsibilities for upholding it;
  4. the meaning and significance of key ethical principles as they figure into the care of displaced populations and in the process asylum-seekers follow including: minimizing harm; respect for bodily integrity, privacy, and decision-making autonomy; fair resource allocation; and epistemic injustice;
  5. ethical concerns that arise for governments in relation to refugees and migrants;
  6. ethical concerns that arise for humanitarian health workers providing assistance to displaced people.

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 1-3

Examines topics of current interest such as death and dying, rights of children, and philosophical controversies in modern physics. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Schedule Type: Lec/Sem #1, Lec/Sem #2, Lec/Sem #3, Lec/Sem #4, Lec/Sem #5, Lec/Sem #6, Lec/Sem #7, Lec/Sem #8, Lec/Sem #9, Lecture, Sem/Lec #10, Sem/Lec #11, Sem/Lec #12, Sem/Lec #13, Sem/Lec #14, Sem/Lec #15, Sem/Lec #16, Sem/Lec #17, Sem/Lec #18
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.