Wilmette Institute

Economic Justice in a World of Injustices

Social Transformation

Duration

8 weeks

Weekly Study

4-6 HOURS

Dates

Oct 29-Dec 23

October 29, 2020

Fee: $75

The topic of economics is vast and complex. It is commonly assumed that the economic health of a society is accurately represented by indices such as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and that the human experience is all but irrelevant. Many people are intimidated by economics and some view it as problematic to the forward progress of humanity and the planet. In this course, however, we will view economics and economic justice from a totally different perspective: through the lens of distributive justice. According to the Bahá’í Writings, economic progress is perpetuated by justice. Issues of economic justice are fundamentally about the ethics and moral foundation of income distribution. Distributive justice is often considered not to belong to the scope of economics, but there is actually an important body of literature in economics that addresses normative issues in social and economic justice.

Topics

Economic Justice vs. Distributive Justice: Definitions, Concepts, Theories and Examples
The Concept of Wealth in the Bahá’í Writings
Classifying Bahá’í Teachings on Distributive Justice: Economic and Spiritual Principles
Economic Justice and the Principles of Equity and Equality
Economic Justice and the Law of Huqúqu'lláh
The Bahá’í Concept of Well-Being and Prosperity in Relation to Distributive Justice
The Role of Government Participation in Establishing a Just Society

Meet Your Faculty

Jean Parker, PhD

Affiliate Faculty, College of Business and Economics, Regis University

I am a qualitative researcher utilizing participatory research to build cohesive communities throughout the world. My doctoral dissertation was on emergency preparedness learning through community radio in North Indian villages. I incorporated principles of the Bahá’í Faith into my academic work resulting in the development of a new theoretical approach... See Faculty Bio

Hooshmand Badee, PhD

Author, Faculty Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE)

Living amongst both the poorest nations and the wealthiest nations of the world for more than four decades, I witnessed inequality in the standard of living and a widening gap between the rich and the poor. It was clear from my experiences and observations that such extremes and their effects... See Faculty Bio

Richard Hainsworth, MSc

Potter, WI Adjunct Lecturer

CeramicsDuring a wet day travel-teaching in Rippon, Yorkshire, a local Bahá’í, Victor Priam, introduced a group of us to his ceramics studio, and I made my first pot. I was 15. Ceramics and throwing clay have been a hobby since then. So now, having moved back to the UK after... See Faculty Bio

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