Perspectives on the Law (R)

This course will examine themes in legal philosophy in the context of an introduction to three general areas of law: nuisance, privacy, and an application of the values analysis in social justice. In each of the three areas, students will be introduced to a rich descriptive problem and asked to work through the problem using diverse approaches from substantive law and readings in jurisprudence. Students would be asked to compare and contrast the variety of conceptions of the nature of law, including (but not limited to) classical jurisprudential thinking, Catholic approaches to social justice, and modern "critical" approaches. The emphasis will be on the interaction between legal process and the ethical, historical and political contexts in which legal rules arise. The goals of the course are that students will (1) become familiar with competing claims about the nature of law and how it exercises binding force,and (2) reflect on the ways in which incorporation of jurisprudential ideals in the practice of law will lead to a more satisfying professional career.