Spring 2027 Class Descriptions: Electives
Jurisprudence (LWJT530)
Instructor(s): Horacio Spector
3 credit(s), Letter Graded
Requirement(s): Writing
This is a course in contemporary legal philosophy. We will discuss questions about the nature and existence of law and its relationship to morality, social norms, and political decision-making. We will take legal positivism, especially in its Hartian version, as our starting point, and then address various metaphysical and metanormative questions concerning legal facts, legal language, legal reasoning, and legal interpretation. We will also examine fundamental legal concepts such as rights, powers, and liberties. Other approaches to law, including natural law theory and legal realism, will also be considered. The ultimate goal of the course is to prepare students to discuss hard and complex cases rigorously and to contribute to institutional reform. Each student will be required to write a 20-page paper. Successful completion of this course satisfies the written-work requirement.