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Foundational Issues in Legal Theory - LAW00026M

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  • Department: The York Law School
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Matt Matravers
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module summary

Introduces students to core debates and issues in legal theory. These include: the relationship of law and morality; the duty to obey the law; and critical perspectives on the law.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

The module considers the foundational questions of legal theory with reference to broader underlying philosophical and political issues often through the consideration of meaningful examples.

Indicative topics include: What is law?; The relationship of law and morality?; The role of law in society.

The module aims to develop academic skills in the reading of legal and philosophical texts and the relating of those texts to moral and political problems.

As a result, the module aims to develop in students analytical skills of problem identifying and solving.

Module learning outcomes

Subject content

  • By the end of the module, students should be able to analyse and understand texts in legal and political theory;
  • They should be able to demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of a variety of philosophical and legal issues relevant to the law.

Academic and graduate skills

  • To identify, retrieve and discriminate among sources of information relevant to philosophical questions about law;
  • To synthesise and analyse a variety of information sources to develop further knowledge, construct arguments, draw conclusions supported by appropriate authority, and evaluate the merits of alternative arguments.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
3000 word essay		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
3000 word essay		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Feedback will be give on the essay plan before the end of the Autumn Term (in advance of writing the Summative Assessment).

Indicative reading

Kavanagh, A & Oberdiek, J (eds.) Arguing About Law (Routledge 2009)


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.