PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
Phil. 332
Instructor: Robert Johnson
TR 12:30-1:45
119 GCB
Office Hours: Monday 10-12, Tuesday 2-4
884-6210, johnsonrn@missouri.edu

In this course we will discuss philosophical problems concerning: the nature of law, the foundations of legal and judicial authority, criminal law (punishment), private law (torts and contracts), and the economic analysis of law. Some of the issues we will consider are: What is law? Is it simply an institution of rules of a certain sort, or must it conform to any moral requirements? What is the nature and extent of legal and judicial authority? What is the rationale for punishment and how far is it justified? How should fault be related to recompense of harms, if at all? Is, or should it be, the goalof legal institutions to promote economic efficiency?

Texts:

Jeffrie G. Murphey and Jules L. Coleman. Philosophy of Law: An Introduction to Jurisprudence. Rev. ed. (Westview Press, hereafter “M&C”)

Feinberg and Coleman, ed., The Philosophy of Law. (Wadsworth, hereafter “F&C”)

Course Requirements:
  
   Term Paper 25%
   Commentary Paper 20%
   Midterm Exam 25%
   Final Exam 30%

SCHEDULE OF READINGS AND TOPICS

I. Introduction, Postitivism vs. Realism (Aug. 21, 23)

M&C pp. 6—55

II. Positivism vs. Realism (Aug. 28, 30)

M&C pp. 6—55
“Riggs v. Palmer” F&C 147—152

III. Positivism vs. Realism (Sept. 4, 6)

Hart: “Law as the Union of Primary and Secondary Rules” and “Positivism and the Separation of Law and Morals.” F&C 45—75

IV. Positivism vs. Realism (Sept. 11,13)

   Dworkin: “The Model of Rules” and “Integrity in Law”, F&C pp. 130—146, 152—166.

V. Morality and Legality (Sept. 18, 20)

   M&C, pp.67-108
“Cohen v. California”, “Village of Skokie v. National Socialist Party of America”, and “Texas v. Johnson,” F&C, pp. 322—338

V. Morality and Legality (Sept. 25, 27)

   Joel Feinberg, "Limits to the Free Expression of Opinion" 306—321

VI. Punishment (Oct. 2, 4)
  
   M&C, pp. 109—142
“Payne v. Tennessee”, F&C, pp. 799—816

VII. Punishment (Oct. 9, 11)
  
   Joel Feinberg, “The Expressive Function of Punishment” F&C 688—698

VIII. Punishment (Oct. 16, 18)

   S. Nathanson, “Should we Execute Those who Deserve to Die? F&C 841—850
   THURSDAY OCT. 18, MIDTERM EXAM

IX. Civil Law: Torts (Oct. 23, 25)

   M&C, pp. 143—161
“Palsgraf v. The Long Island Railroad Co.”, “Summers v. Tice”, “Sindell v. Abbott Labs”, 598—622

X. Civil Law: Torts (Oct. 30, Nov. 1)

   Hart/Honore: “Causation and Responsibility.” F&C 572—583
  
XI. Civil Law: Contracts (Nov. 6, 8)

   M&C, pp. 161—180

XII. Civil Law: Contracts (Nov. 13, 15)

   Kronman: Contract Law and Distributive Justice. F&C 453—470
   EXCHANGE FIRST VERSION OF TERM PAPER THURSDAY, NOV. 15

XIV. Thanksgiving Break (Nov. 18-25)

XV. Economic Analysis (Nov. 27, 29)

   M&C, pp. 181—234
   RETURN PAPERS AND HAND IN COMMENTS

XVI. Economic Analysis (Dec. 4, 6)

   Coleman/Ripstein: Mischief and Misfortune. F&C pp. 419—438
   TERM PAPER DUE THURSDAY DEC. 6

FINAL EXAM: Monday, December 10, 1:00 - 3:00 pm

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