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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

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Module Title
Module Code (ITS)
Faculty School
Module TeachersJohn Murray
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
Coursework Only
Description

This module explores justice and peace, both generally and with regard to selected issues, from theological and philosophical perspectives, from biblical and ancient times up to the modern tradition of Catholic Social Doctrine.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a theological and philosophical knowledge and understanding of the concepts of justice and peace.
2. Identify and reflect upon the biblical and traditional sources of Christian thinking on, and action for, justice and peace.
3. Argue and justify ethical points of view regarding justice and peace issues, supported by relevant theological and philosophical sources.
4. Apply ethical principles and truths from the Christian tradition to specific contemporary justice and peace issues, such as war and human rights.
5. Integrate insights from the theological and philosophical tradition into a coherent, person-centred worldview.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture24No Description
Assignment Completion50No Description
Independent Study51No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Philosophical and theological understandings of justice and peace.

Justice and peace in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures and St Thomas Aquinas.

Catholic Social Doctrine/Teaching - history, texts and principles [e.g. human rights, solidarity, etc.].

Just War Theory and Pacifism. Environmental Issues. Other selected issues.

Liberation Theology

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment% Examination Weight%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Essayn/a100%n/a
Indicative Reading List

  • Cassidy, Eoin (ed.): 2007, The Common Good in an Unequal World, Veritas, Dublin,
  • Charles, Roger: 1998, Christian Social Teaching and Witness [2 vols.], Gracewing, Herefordshire, UK,
  • Dorr, Donal: 2016, Option for the Poor and for the Earth, 3rd, Orbis, Maryknoll, New York, 978-162698162
  • Himes, Kenneth: 2001, Responses to 101 Questions on Catholic Social Teaching, Paulist Press, New Jersey,
  • Murray, John: 2005, Issues of Justice and Peace, Veritas, Dublin,
  • Ford, David and Rachel Muers (eds.): 2005, The Modern Theologians: An Introduction to Christian Theology Since 1918, 3rd edition, chapter 27 (Ethna Regan and Rachel Chopp "Latin American Liberation Theology"), Blackwell, Oxford, UK,
  • Gill, Robin (ed.): 2014, The Cambridge Companion to Christian Ethics, 2nd, chapters 8-10, 13-17., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
  • Regan, Ethna: 2010, Theology and the Boundary Discourse of Human Rights, Georgetown University Press, Washington, DC,
Other Resources

34763, Website [translated book], Aquinas, St. Thomas, 1920, Summa Theologica, http://www.newadvent.org/summa/,

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