Postgraduate Course: Philosophy of Law MSc (PHIL11056)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
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.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate a detailed understanding of a selection of central theories and arguments from contemporary philosophy of law.
- critically assess and compare principal contemporary arguments and positions in the philosophy of law and to deploy these arguments for themselves.
- analyse complex arguments and concepts and apply these abilities to topics in the philosophy of law.
- write and discuss with greater clarity, rigour and structural transparency and develop appropriate research skills in philosophy.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Reading, understanding and critically engaging with complex texts; critical thinking; constructive oral engagement; essay writing. |
| Keywords | Law,Evidence,Reasoning,Rights |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Martin Smith
Tel: (0131 6)50 3654
Email: Martin.Smith@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Becky Verdon
Tel: (0131 6)50 3860
Email: Rebecca.Verdon@ed.ac.uk |
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