Présentation
How should democratic societies deal with identity groups? For some, identity politics is a threat to democracy. To be identified as a member of a group, whether defined in terms of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or social status, is to be denied the kind of individuality associated with one's own character, as well as the ability to freely choose one's allegiances. In other words, identity groups alienate rather than liberate people. They separate them rather than bring them together as members of the same community. For others, identity groups are not detrimental to freedom, individuality or social justice, but are the very basis from which their meaning is drawn and the source on which we can draw when we wish to promote and protect them. Identity groups come in many forms. The suggestion that they should be recognised and accommodated both politically and legally is often highly controversial. In this seminar we will examine some of these controversies, discuss the normative principles involved, and attempt to assess their significance from a political and ethical perspective.
BIBLIOGRAPHIE GENERALE
Session 1 – Friday, 7 February 2025 (2-4 p.m., Room 707)
Guest: Daniel Weinstock, “A Political Philosophy of Compromise ”
Katharine A. Pearson Chair in Civil Society and Public Policy
Faculty of Law, Department of Philosophy, Max Bell School of Public Policy, and Department of Equity, Ethics and Policy.
Member of the Order of Canada
Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Session 2 – Friday, 14 February 2025 (2pm-4pm, room 707): Democratic justice and collective identities
Reading: Kimberlé CRENSHAW (1991), “Mapping the Margins”. Nancy FRASER (1997), Justice interruptus, chapter 1. Axel HONNETH, “From Struggles for Recognition to a Plural Concept of Justice: An Interview with Axel Honneth” (2004). Yascha MOUNK, The Identity trap. A Story of ideas and Power in our Time, New York, Penguin Press, 2023, part. III et IV. Iris Marion YOUNG, “Structural Injustice and the Politics of Difference” (2004)
Session 3 – Friday, 28 February 2025 (2pm-4pm, room 707): Cultural differences in democracies.
Reading: Reading: Brian BARRY, Culture and Equality, chapter 4. Jürgen HABERMAS, Between naturalism and religion, part IV, “Tolerance”, 3 chapters (2008). Charles TAYLOR, multiculturalism (1990). Jeremy WALDRON(2002) “Taking Group Rights Carefully”
Session 4 – Thursday, 6 March 2025 (10am-12pm, Michel Villey Institute Reading Room): Multicultural politics
Reading: Brian BARRY, Culture and Equality, part III. Samuel HUNTINGTON, Who Are We? The Challenges to America's National Identity(2004). Will KYMLICKA (2010) “The rise and fall of multiculturalism?”. Will KYMLICKA (2021), “The Ethics of Membership in Multicultural Societies”. Anne PHILLIPS, Multiculturalism without culture, chapter 6.
Session 5 – Thursday, 6 March 2025 (1-3pm, room 707): Feminism and difference
Reading: GILLIGAN Carol, In a Different Voice (1982). MACKINNON Catharine, “Difference and Dominance: On Sex Discrimination (1984). NODDINGS Nel (2013) Caring A Relational Approach to Ethics and Moral Education, chapter 4. PATEMAN Carole, “Women and consent” (1980).
Session 6 – Friday, 7 March 2025 (2pm-4pm, room 707): Feminism: private and public issues
Reading: Nancy FRASER (1997), Justice interruptus, chapter 2. John Stuart MILL, The Subjection of Women (1869). Carole PATEMAN, “Feminist Critiques of the Public/Private Dichotomy” (1987). Susan Moller OKIN, “Gender, the private and the public” (1991).