JURISPRUDENCE AND SOCIAL ISSUES
Examines fundamental questions about the nature and content of law, addressing both analytic and normative jurisprudence. Questions in analytic jurisprudence include: What does it mean for something to be the law? Why are some things a matter of law, while others are not? What is the relationship between law and morality? Is the law exhausted by the meaning of words in constitutions and statutes? Questions of normative jurisprudence concern the proper content of law, such as, what should the law permit, prohibit, and promote? These questions are examined by looking at a number of topics that are at issue in U.S. (and other nations') laws. These will include interpreting criminal law statutes, policies promoting public welfare, and the justifications for property, especially intellectual property rights.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: SOC/LEGAL ST 131 , POLI SCI/LEGAL ST 217 , or graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Humanities & Arts Breadth - Humanities Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2024 Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate familiarity with major issues in jurisprudence and the ability to examine critically various ways of understanding the nature and content of law Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Demonstrate knowledge about how ideas and ideologies have changed over time and have shaped social and moral arguments concerning the law Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Develop ability to articulate and discuss complex issues and arguments surrounding legal, social, and moral questions Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Demonstrate the ability to analyze information, to write clearly and persuasively, and to construct original arguments Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the legal, political, and philosophical contexts and current scholarly debates concerning jurisprudence. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate familiarity with major issues in jurisprudence and the ability to examine critically various ways of understanding the nature and content of law Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Demonstrate knowledge about how ideas and ideologies have changed over time and have shaped social and moral arguments concerning the law Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Develop ability to articulate and discuss complex issues and arguments surrounding legal, social, and moral questions Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Demonstrate the ability to analyze information, to write clearly and persuasively, and to construct original arguments Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the legal, political, and philosophical contexts and current scholarly debates concerning jurisprudence. Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027