PHIL 106 - Philosophy & Contemporary Issues

Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)

This class focuses on the ethics and politics of immigration. The debate over how to deal with immigrants-both documented and undocumented-has become central to US politics. This class engages with the philosophical scholarship on immigration and justice in an effort to make headway on the questions dominating our politics. What rights, if any, does a political community have to restrict immigration and why? What obligations, if any, does a political community have to admit those in need and why? How does a community balance obligations to migrants and its obligations to its own citizens? In what respects can immigration policies help or hurt migrants? In what peculiar ways are migrants vulnerable to harm or abuse? Should we draw distinctions between refugees and immigrants? Or between documented and undocumented immigrants? Concepts that are investigated include sovereignty, territory, nationalism, equality, racism, oppression, human rights, reparations, global capitalism, detention, and law enforcement. Graham Parsons.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS