course description: This course offers an introduction to philosophical thinking about social issues related to the law via a critical survey of philosophical writings on a variety of such issues.   It does not presuppose any background in philosophy or familiarity with the issues to be discussed.

required readings: All required readings for this course are available as electronic texts linked to this syllabus.  Students who wish to access the readings electronically from off-campus computers should click here for specific instructions about how to do so.  Students are expected to come to class each day having done the required reading for that day.

course requirements: Final grades will be based on a combination of written work, class participation, and a final examination.  Students will be evaluated on their ability to explain and critique the arguments covered in the course, and not on whether they agree or disagree with them.
        1. papers (70 percent of final grade): students will write two 7-8 pp. papers, each of which is worth 35 percent of the final grade.  The first paper is due on Wednesday, October 13 and the second paper is due on Monday, December 6.  Papers should be left in my box in the philosophy department office (HLMS 169) by 5:00 p.m. on the day they are due.  Be sure to include your name and e-mail address on the front page of the paper.  For further details on the writing assingments for this course, click here .
        2. class participation (10 percent of final grade): participation will count for 10 percent of the final grade.  Class participation requires, at a minimum, attending class.  Attendance will be taken each day and a student's participation grade will be lowered by one-half (e.g., from a B to a B-) for every unexcused absence.  In addition, to earn full credit for participation, students must be actively engaged in the course, where this is construed broadly to include conversations with the instructor during office hours and correspondence with the instructor via e-mail, as well as contributions to class discussion.
        3. final examination (20 percent of final grade): the final exam will count for 20 percent of the final grade.  The exam will involve a combination of short answer questions and short essay questions.  Students will be required to answer short essay questions about articles other than those they wrote their two 7-8 pp. papers on.  The exam will be held on Monday, Dec. 13 from 10:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.

class meetings

1. introduction and overview (Aug. 24)

2. should the United States government make reparations for slavery? (Aug. 26, 31)
        Randall Robinson, "America's Debt to Blacks"

3. should the state prohibit abortion? Part I (Sep. 2, 7)
        Don Marquis, "Why Abortion is Immoral"

4. should the state prohibit abortion? Part II (Sep. 9, 14)
        Judith Jarvis Thomson, "A Defense of Abortion"

5. is there a moral obligation to obey the law? (Sep. 16) (guest speaker: John Harris)
        "Legal Obligation and Authority"

6. should the state prohibit blackmail? (Sep. 21, 23)
        Walter Block, "The Crime of Blackmail: A Libertarian Critique"

7. should the state require a license in order to be a parent? (Sep. 28, Oct. 5)
        Hugh LaFollette, "Licensing Parents"

8. should the state prohibit reproductive cloning? (Oct. 7, 12)
        President's Council on Bioethics, "Human Cloning and Human Dignity" Chapter V

9. should the state abolish the practice of inheritance? (Oct. 14, 19)
        D.W. Haslett, "Is Inheritance Justified?"

10. should the state prohibit prostitution? (Oct. 21, 26)
        Lars Ericsson, "Charges Against Prostitution"

11. should the United States give more money to famine relief? (Oct. 28, Nov. 2)
        Peter Singer, "Famine, Affluence and Morality"

12. should the United States employ a policy of nuclear deterrence? (Nov. 4, 9)
        Gregory S. Kavka, "Some Paradoxes of Deterrence"

13. should the state engage in capital punishment? (Nov. 11, 16)
        Jeffrey H. Reiman, "Justice, Civilization, and the Death Penalty"

14. what role should luck play in the legal system?  (Nov. 18, 23)
        Andrew Latus, "Moral Luck"

15. what does the state owe to its future citizens? Part I (Nov. 30, Dec. 2)
        Derek Parfit, "Future Generations: Further Problems", pp. 113-119

16. what does the state owe to its future citizens? Part II (Dec. 7, 9)
        Derek Parfit, "Future Generations", pp. 140-46; 158-61

Final Exam: Monday, December 13, 10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.