PHIL 280.001 – Morality and Law

Instructor: Larisa Svirsky. This course meets MWF 12:20 – 1:10 p.m. in CW 105.

It seems plausible that in general we morally ought to obey the law. There seem to be clear examples, however, of laws that are or were unjust. In this course, we will explore this tension in the course of considering a variety of views about the proper relationship between law and morality. More specifically, we will examine the moral dimensions of particular aspects of the law, including criminal law, competence and responsibility, punishment, and torts. No prior acquaintance with legal philosophy is expected or required.