Social Justice and Health
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: Fabrizio SCIACCAExpected Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
Acquire an advanced understanding of the philosophical and political foundations of social justice, with particular attention to the relationship between health, equality and distributive justice.
Understand the main normative theories (utilitarianism, libertarianism, communitarianism, contractualism, capability approach) in their application to issues of health care and social justice.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Apply normative categories and principles to the analysis of concrete cases of health inequalities, access to health care, and distributive conflicts.
Use philosophical reasoning to evaluate public health policies and ethical dilemmas arising from scarcity of resources and unequal access to care.
Making judgements
Formulate independent and well-argued judgements on the ethical and political legitimacy of inequalities in health, identifying criteria for just distribution of medical resources.
Critically assess existing theories (e.g. Daniels, Rawls, Sen) and develop reasoned alternatives in the light of hard cases (mental illness, chronic illness, vulnerable groups).
Communication skills
Present complex philosophical–political arguments in oral and written form, clearly and rigorously, addressing both academic and policy-oriented audiences.
Engage in reasoned debate, defending positions and responding constructively to counterarguments.
Learning skills
Develop autonomous strategies for study and research in political philosophy and bioethics, locating and critically engaging with primary and secondary sources.
Strengthen the ability to pursue further academic or professional research in normative political theory, health justice, and public policy.
Course Structure
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Textbook Information
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction – Social justice and healthUtilitarianism – Limits and challengesQALY – Quantification and discriminationFair Innings – Generational priorityStructural limits – Aggregation and the personLibertarianism – Health as a non-guaranteed goodCommunitarianism – Pluralism and healthPars construens – Justice, equality and health careRawls – Justice as fairness and healthOutka – Moral test and justiceWorst-off – Maximin and healthDaniels – Equality of opportunity and health careRevising Daniels – Needs and lifespan approachCritiques – Divergences and repliesJust health – Access and equal respectConclusions – Severe illness and new questions | Russo |