UCSSCLAW117.5 ECTSEnglishBachelor
Law, Society and Justice
Faculteit—
NiveauBachelor
Studiejaar2026-2027
Beschrijving
Course goals
- distinguish between and describe different perspectives on law in context, in particular with the major topics in law and society, and socio-legal theory,
- distinguish and use different types of arguments (e.g. theoretical vs. empirical; legally valid vs. philosophically sound)
- understand general moral and philosophical questions and dilemmas surrounding legal justice
- understand and have insight into, the fundamental scientific questions regarding: the nature of law, the relationship between law and morality, and the notions of justice
- identify and explain the social context justifying the how and the why’s of legal formation and legal rules
- participate in legal debates involving notions of justice and in debates relate to the question of what the law is
- explain the principles and values of law and critically reflect the extent in which law is necessary for social order
- conduct legal research based on a given research question that deals with law and morality
- write papers involving legal/moral queries from a legal philosophical, contextual and theoretical perspective
Relationship between course objective and assignments
- participation: 1-2, 5-7
- individual paper: 4, 6-9
- group presentation: 1-2, 4-6
- group assignment: 4-9
- final exam: 1-7
Content
ContentLaw serves society but what do we mean by law? What is it? What does it do and how can we recognise it? Law has something to do with rules; perhaps law consist of rules. But, not all rules are law. How can we differentiate legal rules from other rules, such as moral rules or social rules, rules of etiquette or religious rules? Why do all societies have something we call law and when do we consider law and/or society just? This 100-level course in Social Sciences covers all these questions, which are brought together under the heading of ‘law as mankind's most important organizing principle.’ Unlike UCSSCLAW12 (Introduction to Law) the course is not an introduction to law in the books! Rather it is a course that seeks to take a critical perspective about how we can think about law, society and justice. Indeed, the premise is that to understand law demands understanding society . The course holds the belief that such a ‘contextual’ approach to study law allows for a meaningful discussion about justice and what it pertains to in contemporary society.
Format
The format of the sessions varies. Great emphasis is put on the self-organisation of students. Hence, most session exists of either discussions on the literature, chaired by students or presentations by a group of students on the literature well prepared, also in written form (see below). Both are part of the evaluation and assessment process. In addition, there are lectures and plenary discussions, headed by me to introduce a new subject. There are also class assignments, such as a moot court and field trips.
The format of the sessions varies. Great emphasis is put on the self-organisation of students. Hence, most session exists of either discussions on the literature, chaired by students or presentations by a group of students on the literature well prepared, also in written form (see below). Both are part of the evaluation and assessment process. In addition, there are lectures and plenary discussions, headed by me to introduce a new subject. There are also class assignments, such as a moot court and field trips.
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