PubPol 249:
Life Within Capitalism -
A History of Its Values, Measures and Struggles
Capitalism has been called both the most productive and the most destructive system in history. It has been cause for war and revolution. More than just a system, capitalism is also an ideology, a culture, a way of seeing and being. Relatively young, yet by now pervasive, it has left few aspects of life on the planet untouched. As both system and ideology, it has been promoted as the great, perhaps even only hope for prosperity, and rejected as the central impediment to a humane future. Analyzed as everything from a crippled yet necessary precondition for progress to the mark of the “end of history,” capitalism has become the central organizing principle of lives from Beijing to Washington.
Through multiple dialogue, discussion, and project formats, this course explores the history of life within capitalism, with a focus on the U.S. By now a predominant economic and cultural system, explorations of capitalism center on the struggles, values, and measures that generated modern versions of capitalism. Readings and materials cover key developments in the history of capitalism, the logic of capitalism (choices, values, goals), as well as current challenges and possible future developments within and beyond the system itself.
Cross-listed as PolSci 252, History 284, Ethics 271, and Econ 270.
PubPol 284: Denial, Faith, and Reason -
Sustainability and Survival
This course investigates both theory and history of the concept of sustainability, and explores its various economic and political manifestations over time. What are the historical roots of the sustainability debate? What aspects of life do various concepts of sustainability entail, and how do they inform modern ethics? What, in the end, does the history of political economics teach us about the possibility of sustainable development?
Cross-listed as Econ 285, Environ 276, Ethics 285, History 325, PolSci 249.
PubPol 546: Wellbeing Economics
How do we build an economy that prioritizes human welfare? How do we serve ecological, economic, and social goals within corresponding constraints? Course examines the theory and practice of well-being economics; draws on local and regional resources; engaging expertise and solutions across disciplines and sectors; operationalizes well-being economics principles through a semester-long project capstone. Uses issues in political economy and sustainability to help students develop their analytic, writing, oral presentation skills.
What are the roots of the climate crisis or unparalleled inequality? This course explores big ideas as well as specific models that envision a radically different future, one that provides for the common good within our given biophysical limits, including discourses such as post-growth, wellbeing, and care economics; eco-feminism; eco-anarchism; decolonization; ecological justice; and commoning. A reading and discussion intensive course that uses an interdisciplinary approach and includes elements of research, individual and group presentations, as well as a writing requirement.
Part of the Focus cluster 'It's Not Too Late to Build a Better World,' requires permission.
Cross-listed as Econ 182, History 170, and Ethics 182.
PubPol 171: Beyond Denial - A Thriving Future
In the global North, the idea of progress has dominated both right and left-wing politics, secular and religious discourse, and virtually every manifestation of culture. The idea that the new is better than the old, that humans are constantly improving on their scientific, intellectual, moral, and material lives, represents one of the most deeply ingrained qualities of modern culture. And yet, young people in particular are beginning to question the nature and consequences of progress, citing everything from climate change to rising inequality and stress as evidence that progress may entail the opposite of improvement. What would we see when we look at our collective modern life from the perspective of, say, 30 or 40 years from now? To say that we live in troubled and transformative times is a cliché. But can we identify the sources or the nature of our challenges? Who or what decides the direction of our lives, and on the basis of what? Is there progress, and, if so, how would we define it? When and where do moral considerations enter the fray? Are they ever not in the fray? How important are they? Starting with the fundamental question—“Are we better off today?”—this course explores a range of topics that are not just central to the direction our lives, but also very specific to the nature and ethical quality of our lives. In all cases we seek to identify ethical standards by which to evaluate some of the key pillars of modern life.