DHUM 27A50 - Politics of the Body and Feminist Ethics

This course explores how different conceptualizations of the body and relationships affect moral and political thought. Through critical readings and discussions, students will engage with diverse theoretical viewpoints and their implications for contemporary ethical issues (such as private and professional care-work, reproductive freedom, social and environmental justice…). Each week, we will analyze a legal case, primarily from the United States, to illustrate the practical dilemmas linked to these theoretical frameworks. Course structure Divided into three parts, the course explores how bodies are governed, mobilized, and ethically considered in contemporary society. PART I: Governing bodies: Biopolitics, Necropolitics and the Politics of Emotion. PART II: Feminist ethics: Care, Intersectionality and Embodiment. PART III: Hard Cases: Legal and Ethical Controversies. Learning outcomes By the end of the semester, students will have a robust understanding of how bodies are politically and ethically constructed/contested. They will be equipped with critical tools to analyze and engage with issues of power, gender, and embodiment in both theoretical and practical contexts.

Sibylle LÉONARD

Séminaire

English

Spring 2024-2025

Participation: 20% Presentation on a case example: 20% Midterm paper: 20% Final project: 40%