LAW-30082 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2020/21

In many universities the module is called `Philosophy of Law¿ or `Legal Philosophy¿ and sometimes `Moral Philosophy¿. The literal meaning of `Philosophy¿ is `love of wisdom¿. The literal meaning of `Jurisprudence¿ is `skill in law¿ or `knowledge of the law¿. This module captures the essence of these concepts: the module is about enhancing our knowledge and understanding of the law ¿ as law ¿ out of love of wisdom and knowledge as virtues that are worth pursuing.
Jurisprudence does not focus on specific legal rules but, rather, on law itself. Jurisprudence takes as its subject-matter all law and not just the law that is specific to one legal system.
The module is divided into two related parts. In the first part we will learn about classic theories of justice and morality that try to answer two interrelated questions: how people should behave (i.e. according to which moral principles) ¿ and which moral principles should be reflected by the law. In the second part we will explore contemporary critical moral and legal theories that will offer insights regarding the meaning of the law and the function of the law within various contexts (e.g. culture, race, sex etc.).
In the seminars we will demonstrate how abstract moral principles and ideas find their expression in every-day scenarios, policy-making and legal rule-making.

To introduce students to classic theories of justice and morality and to contemporary critical theories of law and morality.
The module will encourage students to think critically about the law, to appreciate the relation between law and morality and to better understand the function of the law within various contexts (e.g. culture, race, sex etc.).

Intended Learning Outcomes

understand and analyze a range of different ways of looking at the nature of law: 1
understand and analyze how notions of justice and morality have changed over the last 150 years.: 1
be able to independently research ideas relating to jurisprudence using both legal and non-legal materials.: 1
put forward structured arguments that critically assess the concepts that they have come across in their reading.: 1
understand and analyze arguments about the relationship that various notions of jurisprudence have both to other legal subjects and other disciplines to be found in the university.: 1

Study hours

Seminar attendance: 18 hours
Seminar preparation: 36 hours
Additional reading: 36 hours
Assignment preparation: 60 hours
Total = 150 hours
Total: 150 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment