The primary aim of this course is to foster and develop with students a basic appreciation of the major theoretical and philosophical approaches that have guided the law in all stages of its development. Students will be introduced to a wide range of sources, from the classical writings of philosophers past, to the seminal texts of contemporary philosophers and legal scholars writing on present day jurisprudential debates. Students will learn to reflect in a disciplined and critical manner on the nature and role of the law, as well as the importance of legal systems, legal reasoning, and legal institutions. And students will also have the opportunity to participate in discussions on the presuppositions and methods of legal, political, and therefore also, to some extent, moral philosophy and related social theories for as far as these bear on the institutions, norms and methods of legal systems.

Applicable to students admitted from Semester A 2022/23 to Summer Term 2024

To pass this course, students must obtain an overall mark of 50%, and a minimum of 50% in each of the coursework component and the research paper. Coursework for this purpose means those ways in which students are assessed otherwise than by the research paper.

Applicable to students admitted before Semester A 2022/23 and in Semester A 2024/25 & thereafter

To pass this course, students must obtain an overall mark of 40%, and a minimum of 40% in each of the coursework component and the research paper. Coursework for this purpose means those ways in which students are assessed otherwise than by the research paper.

The course leader will announce the criteria for evaluation of class participation and the group work assignment in the first week of the course. In addition, the course leader will announce the length of the research paper in class and on Canvas.