Studying at York
Foundational Issues in Legal Theory - LAW00026M
Module summary
Introduces students to core debates and issues in legal theory. These include: the relationship of law and morality; the duty to obey the law; and critical perspectives on the law.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2024-25 |
Module aims
The module considers the foundational questions of legal theory with reference to broader underlying philosophical and political issues often through the consideration of meaningful examples.
Indicative topics include: What is law?; The relationship of law and morality?; The role of law in society.
The module aims to develop academic skills in the reading of legal and philosophical texts and the relating of those texts to moral and political problems.
As a result, the module aims to develop in students analytical skills of problem identifying and solving.
Module learning outcomes
Subject content
- By the end of the module, students should be able to analyse and understand texts in legal and political theory;
- They should be able to demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of a variety of philosophical and legal issues relevant to the law.
Academic and graduate skills
- To identify, retrieve and discriminate among sources of information relevant to philosophical questions about law;
- To synthesise and analyse a variety of information sources to develop further knowledge, construct arguments, draw conclusions supported by appropriate authority, and evaluate the merits of alternative arguments.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Feedback will be give on the essay plan before the end of the Autumn Term (in advance of writing the Summative Assessment).
Indicative reading
Kavanagh, A & Oberdiek, J (eds.) Arguing About Law (Routledge 2009)