<p>Lecture, three hours. Exploration of why people disagree, cannot agree to disagree, and how they might come to an agreement. Study approach is applied and empirical, relying on case studies, student game play, and in-class simulations. Covers normative disagreement between and within ethical frameworks: utilitarianism, rights, justice-fairness, and virtue ethics; and within utilitarianism, e.g., effective altruism versus effective accelerationism. Study of theories of disagreement such as evolutionary psychology, cultural theory, world values, systems theory, and the nature of belief systems in the mass public and among experts. Exploration of types of disagreement: moral; political, and party-political; religious and spiritual; between men and women; intra-cultural and cross-cultural; generational; expert-expert and expert-lay; insider-outsider, center-periphery, cosmopolitan-parochial, and urban-rural; premodern, modern, and anti-modern; scientific and conspiratorial; and meta-ethical. P/NP or letter grading.</p>

Political Science

College of Letters and Science

POL SCI 119B - Radical Disagreement

Radical Disagreement

Knowledge outcomes pertain to grasp of fundamental cognitive content, core concepts or questions, basic principles of inquiry, a broad history, and/or varied disciplinary techniques.

Students will learn theories relating to applied ethics. Skills outcomes focus on capacity for applying basic knowledge, analyzing and synthesizing information assessing the value of information, communicating effectively, and collaborating.

Students will collaborate on researching, developing, and executing an in class presentation applying applied ethics theories. Attitudes and values outcomes encompass affective states, personal/professional/social values, and ethical principles.


Students will write a research paper applying applied ethics theories.

Students may apply outside of the classroom the applied ethics theories they
learned in class.

Students may apply outside of the classroom the applied ethics theories they learned in class. Behavioral outcomes reflect a manifestation of knowledge, skills, and attitudes as evidenced by performance, contributions, etc.

Based on the work students did writing the research paper and collaboratively researching, developing, and executing the in-class presentation students may do a better job communicating in writing and word in settings outside of the classroom. 


General Catalog

Radical Disagreement

POL SCI 119B

5 units