Postgraduate Course: Epistemology and Evidence Law (PHIL11195)
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 applies theories and ideas from contemporary epistemology to questions and puzzles in the law of evidence - that branch of the law concerned with the proof of facts in legal proceedings. |
| Course description |
This course applies theories and ideas from contemporary epistemology to questions and puzzles in the law of evidence - that branch of the law concerned with the proof of facts in legal proceedings. Topics to be covered include the presumption of innocence, the beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof, sentencing and punishment, character evidence, forensic evidence and eyewitness testimony. The course may also cover, in any given year, topics of particular contemporary interest - such as the use of biometric evidence in criminal prosecution, and the 'corroboration rule' and 'not proven' verdicts distinctive of Scots law.
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
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 topics and theories in epistemology and evidence law
- critically assess and compare arguments in epistemology and evidence law and deploy these arguments for themselves
- analyse complex arguments and concepts, and apply these abilities to topics in epistemology and evidence law
- write and discuss with greater clarity, rigour and structural transparency and develop appropriate research skills in philosophy
|
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Reading, understanding and critically engaging with research; critical thinking; constructive oral engagement; essay writing. |
| Keywords | epistemology,evidence,law |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Martin Smith
Tel: (0131 6)50 3654
Email: Martin.Smith@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Sabina Ali
Tel: (0131 6) 50 4400
Email: Sabina.Ali@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage