Syllabus
Philosophy of Law
Spring 2008

NOTE: This syllabus will be filled out over the course of the semester. For an idea of what we will deal with in the course, take a look at last year's syllabus (which will, however, differ from this year's in a number of respects).

I.
    Does every legal system have an unlimited and unitary sovereign?
    Reading:
       Introduction and Chapter One

II.
    What is the rule of recognition in the American legal system?
    Reading:
         Chapter Two

III.
    The paradox of self-amendment
    Reading:
          Chapter Three

IV.
    Is there a moral duty to obey the law?
    Reading
          Chapter Four

V.
    Is legitimate authority possible?
    Reading
          Chapter Five

VI.
    Must laws be enforced (or have provisions for enforcement) to be laws?
    Reading
          Chapter Six

VII.
    What is a (legal) right?
    Reading
          Chapter Seven

VIII.
    Can laws contradict each other?
    Reading
          Chapter Eight

IX.
    Is international law really law?
    Reading
          Chapter Nine

X.
    Do all valid laws belong to one comprehensive legal system? 
    Reading
          Chapter Ten

XI.
    Does a judge make or find law in a hard case?
    Reading
          Chapter Eleven

XII.
    Must all legal systems with courts have judicial review?
    Reading
          Chapter Twelve

XIII.
    Is the law what a court says it is?
          Chapter Thirteen
 
XIV.
    What difference do theories of the meaning of words make to the interpretation of the law?
          Chapter Fourteen

XV.
    Does the debate over moral realism make a difference to whether the law should incorporate morality?
          Chapter Fifteen

XVI.
    Can Positivist Theories Explain the Normativity of Law?
          Chapter Sixteen

XVII.
    Can the positivist accept that morality is sometimes incorporated into the law?
          Chapter Seventeen

Paper on Kelsen


XVIII.
    Economic vs. Corrective Justice Accounts of Tort Law
          Chapter Eighteen