Last modified: 5 Days, 46 Minutes ago
This course is an introduction to some of the basic themes and skills linked to learning and doing legal theory. It aims to introduce students to some philosophical tools, concepts, and methods to be able to understand theoretical analysis of the law and legal issues more generally. The course presents these themes and skills, shows some central discussions in the law and legal literature that apply those skills and themes, and then ask students to try using the skills in their tutorial work.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 7.5 credits (3.75 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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The course is divided into four modules, with three lectures and a tutorial in each module. Each module covers a particular set of themes, skills, or methods that are used in the broader context of legal theorising.
Module 1 - Law and What Ought to Be: This module introduces students to the basics of normative language and normative concepts. It specifically seeks to show some of the main concepts and theories relating to the language of ‘ought' and 'should', the structure of reasons, and ethical schools of thought, all linked to how these concepts and themes manifest through the law.
Module 2 - Concept(s) of Law: This module discusses the basic tools for carrying out conceptual analysis, and how language and the law are intertwined. It introduces students to some of the central conceptual debates in legal theory, particularly regarding the concept of law itself, as well as some key concepts like justice and rights.
Module 3 - Law, Reasons, and Arguments: The module focuses on providing students with the fundamental tools and structures for understanding and reconstructing arguments. It seeks to give students a basic understanding of standard forms of arguments as well as how reasons and argumentation affect and even shape our understanding and application of the law.
Module 4 - Critical Legal Theory: This final module introduces students both to the basics of the methods of critique, as well as the themes developed by critical legal theory. It particularly focuses on one form of critical approach - feminist legal theory - and explores how this kind of theorising reshapes understanding of how the law works and what the law is for.
Tutorials will focus on applying these skills and discussing these themes, and will ask students to practice their writing, reading, and speaking skills, both individually and as a group.
The course seeks to both provide some specific philosophical tools for students to continue discovering their theoretical interests throughout the rest of their studies, as well as expose students to some of the tools they will need for further Honours studies.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
750-word essay worth 50% of the overall grade. Feedback within 3 working weeks. If students would like further feedback, they may contact the course co-ordinator to arrange an individual appointment. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To understand the basic concepts of legal theory through illustrative studies, including the authority of law, the theoretical foundations of legal reasoning and the explanation of judicial decisions. |
| Procedural | Analyse | To analyse proposed legal solutions in light of technical legal considerations and in light of questions of principle and policy. |
| Procedural | Apply | To apply the basic concepts of legal theory in the solution of legal problems. |
| Procedural | Apply | To articulate written arguments that draw convincingly on the basic concepts of legal theory. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 33 | Feedback Weeks | 35 | |
| Feedback |
750-word essay worth 50% of the overall grade. Feedback within 3 working weeks. If students would like further feedback, they may contact the course co-ordinator to arrange an individual appointment. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To understand the basic concepts of legal theory through illustrative studies, including the authority of law, the theoretical foundations of legal reasoning and the explanation of judicial decisions. |
| Procedural | Analyse | To analyse proposed legal solutions in light of technical legal considerations and in light of questions of principle and policy. |
| Procedural | Apply | To apply the basic concepts of legal theory in the solution of legal problems. |
| Procedural | Apply | To articulate written arguments that draw convincingly on the basic concepts of legal theory. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Apply | To articulate written arguments that draw convincingly on the basic concepts of legal theory. |
| Conceptual | Understand | To understand the basic concepts of legal theory through illustrative studies, including the authority of law, the theoretical foundations of legal reasoning and the explanation of judicial decisions. |
| Procedural | Analyse | To analyse proposed legal solutions in light of technical legal considerations and in light of questions of principle and policy. |
| Procedural | Apply | To apply the basic concepts of legal theory in the solution of legal problems. |
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