Module Identifier LA33610  
Module Title LEGAL THEORY  
Academic Year 2007/2008  
Co-ordinator Mr Richard W Ireland  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Miss Nkiruka Ahiauzu  
Course delivery Lecture   16 Hours.  
  Seminars / Tutorials   3 Hours. Three one hour seminars.  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam1.5 Hours  100%
Supplementary Assessment1.5 Hours  100%
Professional Exemptions Not Required for Professional Purposes  

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
To acquire knowledge of certain classical and enduring debates in an approach to an understanding of legal phenomena. To develop powers of analysis, critical thought and appropriate modes of argumentation in the consideration of such material. To ask questions of the law and provide indications of the directions in which answers might be sought.


Brief description

Does law have a necessary connection with morality? Can we argue that an unjust law is nota real law? Is law simply the exercise of power or a form of state bullying? We talk of it as involving rules, but what is a rule, and how can it cover all eventualities? What is a judge really doing in declaring the law to cover a particular case?

These are the types of issue which are addressed in the course entitled "legal theory". No prior acquaintance with philosophy is required nor do there exist any "prerequisites" for entry into the course. The aim is to provide all those involved with a grasp of the "larger questions" concerning their chosen subject of study - the seemingly autonomous discipline of law. If we do not have the "answers", at least we will all have a better grasp of the sense of our questions - "sense" as distinct from "non-sense".

Aims

To introduce students to and then develop their capacity for a critical reflective attitude towards the consideration of law as a whole rather than merely consider its constituent substantive elements. Philosophical perspectives and consideration of wider ethical and conceptual issues inform the student's analytical capacity.

Content

CONTENT
The precise content of the course may vary as different topics become more or less timely or significant at the time the course is taught, but will include some or all of the following:

1 Natural Law
What is the relationship, if any, between law and morality? Can we say that an unjust law is not really a law at all? We will look at a body of opinion, from St Thomas Aquinas in the thirteenth century to contemporary philosophers like John Finnis, who argue that law and morality have a necessary connection.

2 Positivism
If law has no necessary moral content then what is it? An exercise of political power? A logical, scientific structure? A collection of social rules, rather like those of football?

3 The obligation to obey law
Linked to the above questions is the issue of obligation. Why should we obey the law? Because it is fair? Or necessary? Or morally right? When shouldn¿t we obey it?

4 Justice
What do we mean by this term which we all seem to use without explaining? What is it its connection with equality? With happiness?

5 Rights
Another term we use all the time (¿human rights¿ etc) but which we seldom bother to explain. Is it just an emotional claim to something we want, or is the substance of a right a different kind of thing? Where do these ¿rights¿ come from?

6 Theories of adjudication
Law involves people making decisions. How do they do this, and how should they? How do we fit the undecided bits of law into theories which tell us what the law is?

7 Comparative Legal Theory
Most legal theories which appear in the textbooks speak of universal truth about the nature of law, but are often the products of British (or American) academics. Would someone in Africa (for example) recognize such ideas or agree with them?

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Cotterrell, Roger Politics of Jurisprudence Butterworth 0406500886
Davies, Howard Jurisprudence Butterworth 0406504288
George, Robert P. Natural Law . 0754621162
H L A Hart The Concept of Law Oxford: Clarendon Press 1961
Harris, J.W. Legal Philosophies edition 2r.e. . Butterworth 0406507163
Howard Davies and David Holdcroft Jurisprudence - Text and Commentary London: Butterworths 1991
J W Harris Legal Philosophies London: Butterworths 1980
Lloyd of Hampstead, Dennis Lloyd Introduction to Jurisprudence edition 3r.e. . Stevens & Sons 0420429107
McCoubrey, H. Textbook on Jurisprudence edition 3r.e. . Blackstone P. 1854318969
Moore Natural Law,Liberalism and Morality edition n.e. . Oxf.U.P. 019924300X
Morrison, Wayne Jurisprudence Cavendish Publishing 1859411347
Penner, Schiff and Nobles Jurisprudence : Oxford University Press,
W Morrison Jurisprudence
Students will be further advised at the beginning of the course

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6