PS 340 - Philosophy of Law

Institution:

Hilbert College

Subject:

Description:

Law has enormous influence on the well-being of citizens, on whether a society is just, and on the potential for prosperity within society. Yet, it is not always clear what exactly the nature of law is. How, for instance, is law different from morality? Moreover, laws are useless unless they influence behavior. To do this, laws must be backed by some sort of coercive force, e.g., the authority of those in power. What constitutes a legitimate use of coercive force? The questions above comprise just some of the issues that will be addressed in a course on the Philosophy of Law. Students will be introduced to the relevant thinkers from the past, with an eye towards a better understanding of current discussions of the subject matter. Moreover, students will learn, analyze, and assess the justification for the answers to these questions. Hence, students will be able to move from a descriptive understanding of law to an historically-grounded understanding of the normative issues intrinsic to any system of law.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.hilbert.edu

Phone Number:

(716) 649-7900

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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