Undergraduate Course: Philosophy of Law (PHIL10166)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course will introduce students to a number of topics and questions in contemporary philosophy of law. |
| Course description |
This course will introduce students to a number of topics and questions in contemporary philosophy of law. There will be particular emphasis on the ways in which philosophy of law overlaps and interacts with legal theory and with other branches of philosophy such as moral philosophy, political philosophy and epistemology. Topics to be covered in the course may include the normativity of the law, the relationship between law and morality, standards of legal proof, the presumption of innocence, the nature of legal precedent and of legal reasoning, the legal notion of evidence, legal rights and obligations and the ultimate aims of a legal system. The course may also include, in any given year, an examination of legal topics of particular contemporary interest, such as the use of ¿cold hit¿ DNA evidence in the courtroom or the corroboration rule in Scots law.
|
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 Philosophy courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework 100%«br /»
Mid-term essay of 1500 words (40%)«br /»
End-of-semester essay of 2500 words (60%)«br /» |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Students will acquire a detailed understanding of a selection of central theories and arguments from contemporary philosophy of law, and will demonstrate this understanding in discussions and essays.
- Students will be able to critically assess and compare some principal contemporary arguments and positions in the philosophy of law and to deploy these arguments for themselves
- Students will improve their ability to analyse complex arguments and concepts and to critically dissect arguments and will apply these abilities to topics in the philosophy of law.
- Students will improve their general conceptual facilities and the level of clarity, rigour and structural transparency in their writing and discussion. Students will develop appropriate research skills in philosophy.
|
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Philosophy,Law |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Martin Smith
Tel: (0131 6)50 3654
Email: Martin.Smith@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Ann-Marie Cowe
Tel: (0131 6)50 3961
Email: Annmarie.Cowe@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage