No prerequisite required

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES: The course deals with content and methodologies both general and peculiar to the discipline, performing a task that is preparatory and auxiliary also for the study of positive law and specialized disciplines. 

EXPECTED RESULTS: 1) Knowledge and understanding: acquisition of fundamental vocabulary, theoretical principles and historiographical notions. 2) Applying knowledge and comprehension: use of the knowledge in textual analysis (historical contextualization, identification of argumentative structures). 3) Making judgements: critical implementation of stages 1) and 2) through identification of problems and proposal of solving strategies. 4) Communication skills: correct use of the acquired vocabulary for an effective communication both in learning and transmission processes and in problem solving. 5) Learning skills: autonomy in further training both in the specific discipline and in the general study of law.  

The course aims to provide the student with a general framework of Legal Theory, with particular attention to contemporary schools and perspectives.  

This task will be performed in two stages:  

STAGE 1: LEGAL THEORIES - will reconstruct the development of their core concepts;  

STAGE 2: TOPICS - will analyze their approach and proposals to face cultural, economic, and political issues emerging from the growing social complexity. 

STAGE 1: LEGAL THEORIES 

1. Natural Law Theory  

2. Legal Positivism  

3. North American and Scandinavian Legal Realism  

4. Law and Society 

5. Law and Economics 

6. Historical and Anthropological Jurisprudence  

7. Critical Legal Studies and Postmodernism  

8. Feminist Jurisprudence and Critical Race Theory  

STAGE 2: TOPICS 

9. Law and Morality  

10. The Duty to Obey the Law  

11. Theories of Justice  

12. Criminal Law Theories  

13. Theories of Rights 

(A) Wacks, Raymond, Understanding Jurisprudence. An Introduction to Legal Theory (Sixth Edition), Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2020

PROGRAMS for ATTENDING and for NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS  

ATTENDING STUDENTS (9CFU): 1. Class notes; slides and didactic materials distributed during the lessons and published on the web page of the course; 2. R. Wacks, Understanding Jurisprudence. An Introduction to Legal Theory (Sixth Edition), Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2020 (selected chapters, to be communicated to students via the course’s website).  

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS: (9CFU): R. Wacks, Understanding Jurisprudence. An Introduction to Legal Theory (Sixth Edition), Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2020 (Paragraphs to study: CH 1 Paragraphs: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 / Ch 2 Paragraphs 2.1, 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.2, 2.3, 2.3.1, 2.3.2, 2.3.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.10.2, 2.10.3 / Ch3 3.1, 3.1.1, 3.2, 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.3, 3.3, 3.3.1, 3.3.3, 3.4.2, 3.4.3 / Ch4 Paragraphs: 4.1, 4.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.1.1, 4.2.1.2, 4.2.3, 4.2.4, 4.2.5, 4.3, 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, 4.3.4 / CH 5 Paragraphs: 5.1, 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 5.2.7, 5.2.8 / CH 6 Paragraphs: 6.1, 6.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.4, 6.3, 6.3.1 / CH 7 Paragraphs: 7.1, 7.2, 7.2.1, 7.4, 7.4.1, 7.4.2, 7.5, 7.5.1, 7.5.2, 7.8, 7.8.1,7.8.2 / CH8 Paragraphs: 8.1, 8.2, 8.2.1, 8.2.1.1, 8.2.1.2, 8.4, 8.4.1, 8.4.2 / CH9 Paragraphs: 9.1, 9.1.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.4.1, 9.6, 9.6.1, 9.6.2, 9.6.3, 9.6.4, 9.7, 9.8, 9.9, 9.9.1, 9.10 / CH10 Paragraphs: 10.3, 10.3.1, 10.3.2, 10.3.3, 10.3.4, 10.3.5, 10.3.6, 10.4, 10.5, 10.5.1, 10.5.2 / Ch12 Paragraphs: 12.1, 12.2, 12.2.1, 12.5, 12.7 / CH13 Paragraphs: 13.1, 13.1.1, 13.2, 13.2.1, 13.2.2. 13.3, 13.3.1, 13.3.2 / CH14 Paragraphs:  14.1, 14.2, 14.2.1, 14.2.2, 14.2.3, 14.2.4).

The course is conducted entirely in English.

• 1. Teaching approach: a) Theoretical; b) Historical  

  2. Type of lessons: a) Lecture; b) Interactive lectures.  

  3. Educational tools: Slides   

• 1. Type of exam: Oral (3 questions about the program) 

  2. Language: English  

  3. Assessment criteria: a) Knowledge of the course syllabus (Total weight in grade evaluation: 40%); b) Reasoning skills: applying knowledge and making judgments (40%); c) Linguistic skills (20%).  

English