E-seminar: Analytical Jurisprudence: Theories and Practical Application

Description 

This seminar focusses on analytical jurisprudence, whose major objective is to inquire about the nature of law and provide an account of what distinguishes law as a system of norms from other systems of norms, such as ethical and political norms. The major conceptual theories of analytical jurisprudence; namely, natural law theory, legal positivism and legal realism which concern the nature of law will be discussed both analytically and based on practical or real-life situations. An attempt will be made to reinterpret these theories and apply them to modern contexts. While this seminar falls within the fields of philosophy and law, material and insights will also be drawn from economic, religious (and theological), sociological, ethical and political perspectives.

Objectives

• To understand the concept of law and its relation to political and ethical norms.
• To be conversant with the discourse on analytical jurisprudence and the major theories that fall within it.
• To explore the extent to the traditional theories of analytical jurisprudence; namely, natural law theory, legal positivism and legal realism still have an impact (or relevance) on the modern understanding of law.
• To explore and analyse how the traditional theories of analytic jurisprudence can be applied to different contexts in the modern world.

Learning Outcomes

KNOWLEDGE

• Have a profound understanding of the concept of law and its relation to political and ethical norms.
• Be knowledgeable about the discourse on analytical jurisprudence and the major theories that fall within it.
• Have profound knowledge about the traditional theories of analytic jurisprudence and how they can be applied to different contexts in the modern world.

COMPETENCE 

• Able to explain clearly the concept of law and its relation to political and ethical norms.
• Able to comprehend and take part in the ongoing the discourse on analytical jurisprudence and the major theories that fall within it.
• Able to explain and discuss the traditional theories of analytic jurisprudence and how they can be applied to different contexts in the modern world.