Philosophical Foundations of International Law

4 Credits

What philosophical principles lay at the essence of such contemporary international legal dilemmas as terrorism, humanitarian intervention, refugee displacement and global warming? Can changing the principles used to understand these dilemmas affect prospects of peace, human rights and the cooperation of states? Building on the pillars of international law (its sources, the recognition and responsibility of states, and the law of jurisdiction and immunity), we'll examine the evolution of the idea of a 'law of nations' from Aquinas to Kant. Attribute/Distribution: HE, HU, W