PHIL2608 Freedom, Law, and Society

Professor Miguel Vatter

2016

4.5

1 x 2-hour seminar weekly

PHIL2330 has been successfully completed

This topic examines some central concepts in the philosophy of law, such as freedom, equality and justice. Consideration is given to problems in the philosophy of law, including: Does the law restrict or enhance our freedom? What is the relationship between law and morality? Are voluntary contractual relationships inherently just? Is equality necessary for Justice? Also, a critical assessment is given of some legal institutions, including property, employment and the family.

This topic aims to:

provide students with an understanding of the philosophical foundations of justice, liberty and equality and an evaluation of the way some important social institutions, including the legal system, embody these values
encourage students to comprehend and identify key points in contemporary discussions of issues concerned with law reform and issues of fairness in important social institution such as property, employment and the family
encourage students to formulate a philosophical problem and develop a fairly sustained argument for an important position in some key debates concerned with justice, liberty or equality, including debates as to whether important social institutions adequately embody these values, while making extensive reference to significant contributions in modern moral and political philosophy
equip students to acquire a reasonably deep comprehension of significant positions and arguments about justice, liberty or equality and whether important social institutions adequately embody these values
engage in sound argument for or against some of those positions
evaluate the soundness of significant arguments found in modern moral and political philosophy for and against those positions

Students must demonstrate both verbally and in writing that they:

have read and understood some significant discussions of some important issues in contemporary moral and political philosophy, especially those concerned with justice, liberty or equality and whether important social institutions adequately embody these values
have read and understood some key arguments on important issues contemporary moral and political philosophy, especially those concerned with justice, liberty or equality and whether important social institutions adequately embody these values
can articulate in discussion and written work their understanding of some important issues that interest them concerned with justice, liberty or equality and whether important social institutions adequately embody these values
can present a reasonably sustained philosophical debate in writing on some of these issues

Key dates and timetable

Timetable details for 2016 are no longer published.

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