LAWS17-572: Philosophical Foundations of Law

Philosophical Foundations of Law is an elective subject in postgraduate programs offered by the Faculty of Law in which undergraduate students may be permitted to enrol. This subject will explore some central themes and traditions in the philosophy of law (also known as legal theory or jurisprudence). Students will gain an understanding of the historical development of philosophy of law from classical times to the present, focusing on recurring themes such as the relationship of law and morality, the limits of legal authority and the nature of legal and social norms. We will begin by introducing the central questions and methodologies of philosophy of law and exploring some overarching questions about the objectivity of values. This will then lead us to the different understandings of law associated with the natural law and legal positivist traditions. We will then explore the relationship of liberalism and law, before introducing feminist and postmodern critiques of the liberal worldview. The subject will conclude by discussing some contemporary disputes on the concept of rights, the nature and limits of judicial reasoning and conceptions of justice. Students will be equipped with the knowledge and analytical tools to engage critically with current debates in each of these areas.