Nussbaum The Use And Abuse Of Philosophy In Legal Education Summary

In Martha C. Nussbaum’s The Use and Abuse of Philosophy in Legal Education, she covers topics ranging from Socrates and his role in Greek government to Aristotle’s claims that philosophy plays a major role in the education of our judicial officials. She begins the article with an event from Socrates’ life. Socrates goes up to a leader of the time and asks him for some definitions of basic legal thoughts. The leader proves to be unable to answer any of Socrates’ questions, showing his lack of knowledge and thought. Socrates goes on to compare himself to a fly and on the rear of a horse that is there to wake it, with the horse representing the Greek government. She goes on to begin introducing the main points of the article, the first one being
When it comes to sexuality, she explains that many judges make decisions based on the sexuality of those involved; because of this, their thoughts can be blocked by their feelings about certain sexualitys and attractions. Her last subpoint of quality of life discusses how the judicial system should measure the quality of life of those passing through. The next point of methodological and epistemological questions discusses how philosophers find the answers to difficult questions. The next session is about specific policy questions and how philosophers who use applied philosophy are more knowledgeable than some others. The next two sections of legal institutions and practices and wonder discuss how philosophy and deep thought should be used more often in the sentencing and punishment of criminals. She gives an example of a philosopher who was teaching classes at a prestigious law school. She taught her law classes as she would a philosophy class, trying to get them to engage in meaningful thought and solve practical