View Specification DocumentPhilosophy of Law PHIL4064
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Humanities
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
- Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course introduces students to the Philosophy of Law. In the first part, it focusses on major general theories of the nature of law. In the second part, it discusses one or two more specialised topics, the selection of which may vary from year to year.
Timetable
16 x 1hr lectures; 4 x 1hr seminars as scheduled on MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in Philosophy and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.
Requirements of Entry
Successful completion of Junior Honours in Philosophy, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
The standard assessments for this course are:
■ Essay (3000 words) - 75%
■ Short written piece (1000 words) - 25%
If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:
■ There are no alternatives to the assessments, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions).
Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.
Course Aims
This course aims to:
■ Allow students to gain a detailed understanding of central theories about the nature of law.
■ Provide students with the opportunity to apply concepts and theories encountered in their previous philosophical training to selected philosophical issues raised by the law.
■ Encourage students to hone their analytical and critical skills, by considering and developing key arguments and positions.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
■ Formulate clearly, and explain, central philosophical theories of the nature of law.
■ Critically evaluate the merits of those theories.
■ Competently deploy concepts acquired in the study of other philosophical subdisciplines (e.g. metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of language, moral philosophy) in the analysis of philosophical questions raised by the law.
■ Articulate complex arguments rigorously, in written form.