PHL 612: Philosophy of Law

RYERSON UNIVERSITY
Department of Philosophy

Course No. PHL 612: Philosophy of Law Winter 2014
SECTION ONE (011)

Instructor(s): Alex Wellington Office: Room 428, Jorgenson Hall*
Phone: [phone] ext. 4057 (E-mail address)**: [e-mail] OR [e-mail]

Office Hours Posted:
Wednesdays at 2:10 pm, By Appointment
Wednesdays at 3:10 pm and at 4:10 pm, Drop In Time
Thursdays at 3:10 pm, By Appointment
*Other times may be available by appointment

Website: Blackboard course website available through my.ryerson.ca

This is an Upper Level Liberal Studies course

Course Description:

PHL 612 Philosophy of Law [Calendar Description]: What is law? What makes something a legal norm? Should citizens always obey the law? What is the relationship between law and morality? This course will explore competing theories of law, such as natural law and positivism, and touch on crucial debates over civil disobedience, purposes of punishment, and interpretation of legal texts. It will deal with contemporary controversies over the legal regulation of human behaviour, for instance in matters of sexual morality.

Grading Scheme:

Course Evaluation:
Grades will be determined in the following manner:

Task
Value
Date
Midterm Test
25%
Week 7
Essay Assignment*
30%
Week 11 (March 28)
Final Exam
45%
TBA

*Essay Assignment will be 1750 - 2250 words (Approximately 7 - 9 pages)
OR Alternative Community-based/ Service Learning Opportunity

Marks for assignments will be posted on Course Website on Blackboard

Any alterations in any of the above will be discussed in class prior to being implemented. The usual process for making alterations to the grading scheme includes: (a) discussing the changes with the class; (b) making such revisions as early as possible in the course; and (c) confirming the changes both orally and in writing (handout or posting to course website).

NOTE: Faculty Course Surveys will be administered online

Readings

Citations: (8) Bedford v. Canada, 2013 SCC 72 (Supreme Court of Canada). Available online: CanLII: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/2013/2013scc72/2013scc72.html (13) R. v. Butler [1992] 1 S.C.R. 452 (Supreme Court of Canada), 1992 CanLII 124 (SCC). (15) Multani v. Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys, [2006] 1 S.C.R. 256, 2006 SCC 6 Available online: CanLII: (16) Trinity Western University v. British Columbia College of Teachers, [2001] 1 S.C.R. 772, 2001 SCC 31 Available online: CanLII: (17) Dworkin, Ronald. 1982. “Law as Interpretation”. Critical Inquiry, Volume 9, Number 1, The Politics of Interpretation (September 1982), pages 179-200. (18) Dworkin, Ronald. 1985. “Law 's Ambitions for Itself”. Virginia Law Review, Volume 71, Number 2 (March 1985), pages 173-187. AND Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982 being Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (U.K.), 1982, c. 11. Sections 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 15. Available Online: CanLII: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/const/const1982.html ********************************** Christman, John. 2003/ 2009. “Autonomy in Moral and Political Philosophy”. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Available online: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/autonomy-moral/ Crenshaw, Kimberle, Neil Gotanda, Gary Peller, and Kendall Thomas, editors Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic. 2012. Critical Race Theory: An Introduction. Second Edition. New York University Press. Delgado, Richard and Jean Stefancic, editors. 1999. Critical Race Theory: The Cutting Edge. Second Edition. Temple University Press. Available through Ryerson University Library; Call Number: KF4755 .C75 2000   Devlin, Patrick Dworkin, Gerald. 1971. “Paternalism”. In Morality and the Law, edited by Richard Wasserstrom (Wadsworth, 1971), pages 107-126 Dworkin, Ronald Finnis, John. 2007. “Natural Law Theory”, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Available online: Fish, Stanley Fuller, Lon. 1964/ 1969. The Morality of Law. Revised Edition. Yale University Press. Green, Leslie. 2003. “Legal Positivism”, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Available online: