University of Galway

Course Module Information

Course Modules

Semester 1 | Credits: 5

The course will examine the philosophy of law in the thought of major political thinkers with the aim to seek guidance in order to respond to attempts to regulate issues that stir controversy. Key ideas that will be discussed through out the seminar are the relationship between law and morality, the role of the State, the difficulties that emerge in the effort to apply abstract moral ideals in reality, the interplay between social context and legal rules, the factors that affect the emergence of the law, the is/ought distinction, the distinction between formal and real freedom, the concept of human dignity. Case studies will include abortion, torture, criminal punishment, harm to self, lying and the law.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Be able to elaborate legal arguments
  2. Be able to understand the key elements in the approach of the law of major thinkers
  3. Be able to reason around concrete legal controversies
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
Reading List
  1. "Basic Political Writings" by Jean-Jacques Rousseau,
    Publisher: Hackett
  2. "Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals" by Immanuel Kant
    Publisher: Hackett
  3. "Political Writings" by Immanuel Kant
    Publisher: Cambridge
  4. "The Theory of Moral Sentiments" by Adam Smith
    Publisher: Liberty Classics
  5. "Elements of the Philosophy of Right" by G. W. F. Hegel
    Publisher: Cambridge
  6. "The Marx-Engels Reader, ed" by Tucker
    Publisher: Tucker
  7. "On the Genealogy of Morals" by Friedrich Nietzsche
  8. "Discipline and Punish" by Michel Foucault
    Publisher: Vintage
The above information outlines module LW3104: "Applied Legal Theory" and is valid from 2015 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.