PHIL 311: Philosophy of Law

PHIL 311-001: Philosophy of Law
(Fall 2022)

01:30 PM to 02:45 PM TR

Horizon Hall 4014

Section Information for Fall 2022

Law structures our lives and the world we inhabit in myriad ways. It regulates how we interact with others, where we go to school, what kinds of things we can own and sell, and how we can be sanctioned if we act outside the law. In this course, we will consider a variety of philosophical questions raised by life within the American legal system. The first portion of the course will consider classic conceptual questions about the nature of law generally and its relation to morality. In the rest of the course we will consider philosophical questions that arise in three areas of American law: public law (constitutional law, criminal procedure, and criminal law), private law (property law, tort law, and contract law), and the professional ethics of lawyers. Students will be asked to recognize and reflect on the impact of law in others' lives and as well as their own, and decide whether and how they plan to impact the law through their own actions.

Dialogue and writing will be the primary modes of learning and evaluation. This course does not include lectures. Instead, students will be expected to develop understanding of readings in dialogue during class meetings and one-on-on conversations with their peers outside of class. They will be challenged to understand and engage empathetically with positions they deeply disagree with. They will have the chance to hone their ability to write engagingly for a broad public audience with a series of targeted writing exercises, multiple paper drafts, and regular opportunities for instructor and peer feedback.

Course Information from the University Catalog