PHIL 340 Philosophy of Law

The course covers both analytical and normative jurisprudence and provides students with a comprehensive foundation for study of the law. Analytical jurisprudence examines the nature and justification of the law including alternative conceptions like natural law theory positivism critical legal studies and law and economics. In addition the course covers the problem of legal interpretation and the role of judicial review in constitutional democracies. Normative jurisprudence concerns the ethical issues raised by the law including freedom of expression and hate speech freedom of religion and the separation of church and state civil liberties and rights theories of punishment and the death penalty and equal protection doctrine.