PHIL245L - Philosophy of Law

3 Credit(s)

Liberal Arts
This course examines some core debates in the philosophy of law, with a particular emphasis on the concept of law. Some of the most prominent theories of law will be examined. Topics that may be covered include the how different theories of law conceive of the relationship of morality to the law, the justification for legal paternalism, the similarities and differences between jurisprudential analyses of criminal responsibility and philosophical analyses of moral responsibility, the moral and legal justifications for punishing criminals, and the concept of international law. Among the authors whose work may be read and discussed include Thomas Aquinas, John Austin, Jeremy Bentham, Ronald Dworkin, Joel Feinberg, Kimberly Ferzan, Claire Finkelstein, John Finnis, H.L.A. Hart, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Brian Leiter, Michael Moore, Joseph Raz, and Scott Shapiro.

Prerequisite(s): PHIL 101L