Morality and Law (PHIL 280/001)
Instructor: Daniel Moseley. This course meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:00 p.m. – 8:50 p.m. in Caldwell 105.
In this course we’ll examine and evaluate the basic principles and practices of American law. We’ll focus on the ethical problems and philosophical questions that arise when one considers the foundations of criminal law: the conflict between liberty and political authority, the justification of punishment, the nature and extent of criminal liability, strict liability laws, bad Samaritan laws, victimless crimes, the insanity defense, forgiveness and overcriminalization. We’ll examine prominent legal cases that pertain to these topics but our emphasis will be on the philosophical and ethical problems that arise in the law. This course is suitable for students who have done little previous work in philosophy, law or public policy.
Daniel Moseley’s webpage