Program Overview

Unit Overview

The unit THCC200 - Justice in the World: Catholic Social Ethics in Global Perspective explores key global challenges through the lens of Catholic Social Thought. This unit aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge to become active agents for change in an interconnected world.

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

The world faces numerous challenges, including war, violence, migration, climate change, and economic injustices. Catholic Social Thought provides a framework to address these issues. This unit examines global challenges in-depth, considering empirical evidence, perspectives of those affected, and philosophical and theological reflections. Students will assess the effectiveness of Catholic Social Thought in addressing these challenges and develop their understanding of human dignity, the common good, and the virtue of care.

Learning Outcomes

To successfully complete this unit, students will be able to:

1. Explain key global challenges with reference to current evidence, perspectives of those affected, and accounts of the issues.
2. Critically analyze key challenges with respect to the common good, human dignity, and the virtue of care, drawing on Catholic Social Thought.
3. Reflect on the development of orientations or norms for personal and collective action based on analysis of Catholic Social Thought.

Unit Content

Topics may include:

• Foundational understanding and skills in critical analysis and argumentation
• Key global challenges, such as war, migration, climate change, and economic injustices
• Important concepts from Catholic social ethics, including human dignity, the common good, and virtue of care
• Important traditions in Catholic Social Thought and its formative documents
• Contemporary critical readings and approaches to Catholic Social Thought

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to enable students to display achievement of all learning outcomes. Assessments include:

1. Task 1: Conceptual Task - Requires students to define and explain key concepts and challenges (20%).
2. Task 2: Critical Analysis Project - Requires students to analyze a key challenge or case study with respect to Catholic Social Thought (40%).
3. Task 3: Integrated Knowledge Defence and Application Task - Requires students to analyze a key challenge and reflect on appropriate norms for personal and collective action (40%).

Learning and Teaching Strategy

This unit will be offered as a flipped classroom, with students completing online modules and attending on-campus seminars. Learning is designed to be engaging and supportive, helping students develop critical thinking, analysis, and reflection skills.

Representative Texts and References

• Cahill, Lisa Sowle. "Laudato Si': Reframing Catholic Social Ethics."
• Cichos, K. et al (eds). Sustainable Development Goals and the Catholic Church
• Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
• Francis. Laudato Si': On Care for Our Common Home. Encyclical Letter, 2015.
• Francis. Fratelli Tutti: On Fraternity and Social Friendship. Encyclical Letter, 2020.
• O'Neill, William. Catholic Social Teaching: A User's Guide
• Sandel, Michael J. Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?
• Táíwò, Olúfẹ́mi. Reconsidering Reparations
• Vogt, Christopher P. "Laudato Si': Social Analysis and Political Engagement in the Tradition of Catholic Social Thought."

Locations and Credit Points

This unit is available at various locations, including Ballarat, Brisbane, Blacktown, Canberra, Melbourne, North Sydney, Online, and Strathfield, and is worth 10 credit points.