Arts, Sciences, and Engineering Philosophy
Course Section Listing Course Course Title Term Credits Status
COURSE_SECTION-3-188600 PHIL 226-1 Philosophy of Law Spring 2025 4.0 Closed
Schedule:
Day Begin End Location Start Date End Date
TR 325 PM 440 PM 01/21/2025 05/11/2025
Enrollment: Enrolled     
55
Capacity     
55
Co-Located: PHIL 226-1 (P), PHIL 226W-1
Instructors: James Otis
Delivery Mode: In-Person
Description: PREREQUISITE: One Previous Philosophy course required

In recent years, the U.S. legal system has been beset by claims of overcriminalization, racially discriminatory enforcement, and inadequate or unequal protection of individual civil rights. What should we make of these claims, and what, if anything, would be implied by their truth? In seeking to answer these questions, this course will examine the nature of the law and its enforcement. We will begin by discussing the issue of criminalization and whether the expansion of the criminal law is or is not problematic. From there, we will turn to the foundational questions of what, precisely, the law is, and what its connection to morality is or should be. Are we obligated to obey the law, and if so, why? Finally, we will ask whether it is possible for the law to remain neutral with regards to morality and politics, and whether the supposed “neutrality” of the law may itself be an instrument of oppression. If the legal system lacks the kind of neutrality that many legal theorists claim for it, what (if anything) does that license us (as citizens) to do? (Offered every spring)

Offered: Fall Spring Summer

Course Section Listing Course Course Title Term Credits Status
COURSE_SECTION-3-187761 PHIL 226W-1 Philosophy of Law Spring 2025 4.0 Closed
Schedule:
Day Begin End Location Start Date End Date
TR 325 PM 440 PM 01/21/2025 05/11/2025
Enrollment: Enrolled     
55
Capacity     
55
Co-Located: PHIL 226-1 (P), PHIL 226W-1
Instructors: James Otis
Delivery Mode: In-Person
Description: In recent years, the U.S. legal system has been beset by claims of overcriminalization, racially discriminatory enforcement, and inadequate or unequal protection of individual civil rights. What should we make of these claims, and what, if anything, would be implied by their truth? In seeking to answer these questions, this course will examine the nature of the law and its enforcement. We will begin by discussing the issue of criminalization and whether the expansion of the criminal law is or is not problematic. From there, we will turn to the foundational questions of what, precisely, the law is, and what its connection to morality is or should be. Are we obligated to obey the law, and if so, why? Finally, we will ask whether it is possible for the law to remain neutral with regards to morality and politics, and whether the supposed “neutrality” of the law may itself be an instrument of oppression. If the legal system lacks the kind of neutrality that many legal theorists claim for it, what (if anything) does that license us (as citizens) to do? (Offered every spring)

The W versions of this course counts toward the upper-level writing requirement for the major. 

Offered: Fall Spring Summer

Course Section Listing Course Course Title Term Credits Status
COURSE_SECTION-3-165133 PHIL 226-1 Philosophy of Law Spring 2024 4.0 Open
Schedule:
Day Begin End Location Start Date End Date
TR 325 PM 440 PM 01/17/2024 05/11/2024
Enrollment: Enrolled     
48
Capacity     
55
Co-Located: PHIL 226-1 (P), PHIL 226W-1, PHIL 426-1
Instructors: Rosa Terlazzo
Delivery Mode: In-Person
Description: PREREQUISITE: One Previous Philosophy course required

In recent years, the U.S. legal system has been beset by claims of overcriminalization, racially discriminatory enforcement, and inadequate or unequal protection of individual civil rights. What should we make of these claims, and what, if anything, would be implied by their truth? In seeking to answer these questions, this course will examine the nature of the law and its enforcement. We will begin by discussing the issue of criminalization and whether the expansion of the criminal law is or is not problematic. From there, we will turn to the foundational questions of what, precisely, the law is, and what its connection to morality is or should be. Are we obligated to obey the law, and if so, why? Finally, we will ask whether it is possible for the law to remain neutral with regards to morality and politics, and whether the supposed “neutrality” of the law may itself be an instrument of oppression. If the legal system lacks the kind of neutrality that many legal theorists claim for it, what (if anything) does that license us (as citizens) to do? (Offered every spring)

Offered: Fall Spring Summer

Course Section Listing Course Course Title Term Credits Status
COURSE_SECTION-3-165971 PHIL 226W-1 Philosophy of Law Spring 2024 4.0 Open
Schedule:
Day Begin End Location Start Date End Date
TR 325 PM 440 PM 01/17/2024 05/11/2024
Enrollment: Enrolled     
48
Capacity     
55
Co-Located: PHIL 226-1 (P), PHIL 226W-1, PHIL 426-1
Instructors: Rosa Terlazzo
Delivery Mode: In-Person
Description: In recent years, the U.S. legal system has been beset by claims of overcriminalization, racially discriminatory enforcement, and inadequate or unequal protection of individual civil rights. What should we make of these claims, and what, if anything, would be implied by their truth? In seeking to answer these questions, this course will examine the nature of the law and its enforcement. We will begin by discussing the issue of criminalization and whether the expansion of the criminal law is or is not problematic. From there, we will turn to the foundational questions of what, precisely, the law is, and what its connection to morality is or should be. Are we obligated to obey the law, and if so, why? Finally, we will ask whether it is possible for the law to remain neutral with regards to morality and politics, and whether the supposed “neutrality” of the law may itself be an instrument of oppression. If the legal system lacks the kind of neutrality that many legal theorists claim for it, what (if anything) does that license us (as citizens) to do? (Offered every spring)

The W versions of this course counts toward the upper-level writing requirement for the major. 

Offered: Fall Spring Summer