Natural law and contemporary legal thinking

Academic year: 2010-2011 Course code module 3BREC-37 Semester: 2nd semester Credits: 6 Study load (hours) 168 Theory (hours): 60,00 Practice/Exercises(hours): Other (hours): Part-time program: Instructor(s) Fernand Tanghe Language of instruction: Dutch Semester exam information: exam in the 2nd semester Contract restriction information: 1. Prerequisites *Algemene competenties Certificate of secundary school Sufficient knowledge of Dutch, French, English and German languages *Sequentiality None 2. Objectives (expected learning outcomes) - Insight in the history and evolution of philosophy of law - Insight in the way of thinking of current legal philosophers and their relationship to the tradition of natural law and positivism - Contextualization of specific current legal problems against the tradition of philosophy of law 3. Course content The theme of the course is centered around the relation between law, politics and ethics; The first part of the course deals with the history of natural law; with special attention to the social contract-theories. In a second part, we pay attention to the main currents of philosophy of law during the 19th and 20th centuries - especially legal positivism -and to some contemporary thinkers. In a third part, some current juridical problems will be treated from the viewpoint of philosophy of law. 4. Teaching method Direct contact: Lectures 5. Assessment method Exam: Oral, with written preparation Closed book Open questions 6. Compulsory reading – study material My own syllabus, available on Blackboard 7. Recommended reading - study material Any text related to the themes treated in the lessons; that is too much to enumerate: I leave the selection of them to the imagination and initiative of students 8. Tutoring Students can ask any question during and after the lessons; a personal appointment with me is possible at any time. laatste aanpassing: last update: 19/08/2010 14:35 fernand.tanghe