PHILS28

Homelessness raises special questions for social and political philosophy, for to be homeless is not simply to lack an important resource, but to live in a particular condition and social status. This course takes up questions such as: Is a home necessary for human dignity? Are laws regulating where the homeless can dwell unjust? How does homelessness affect a person’s ability to be a full member of their community? Is housing a human right, and should it be subject to market norms? Philosophical readings are supplemented with first-person narratives, policy proposals, journalistic reporting, and legal scholarship.