Legal Philosophy

ECTS Credits

10 ECTS Credits

Level of Study

Master

Full-time/Part-time

Full time

Teaching semester

Spring

Objectives and Content

The course gives an introduction to international legal philosophy. The course provides basic knowledge about selected perspectives in legal philosophy on the character and objectives of law as a functioning element of a modern democratic society founded on the rule of law. It also gives an insight into central debates concerning the character and role of legal argumentation.

Learning Outcomes

Based on the course the student should be able to

• distinguish and discuss central positions in international discourse of legal philosophy.

compare and evaluate differences between such central positions in international discourse of legal philosophy

• identify, discuss and state opinions about the character and role of legal argumentation in a modern democratic society based on the rule of law.

Required Previous Knowledge

Three years of university studies

Recommended Previous Knowledge

Three years of law studies.

Good written and spoken English.

Access to the Course

• Admitted to the integrated master programme in law
• Admitted to the two-year master programme in law
• Granted admission to elective courses at the Faculty of Law
• Granted additional right to study following completed master degree in law at UiB
• Exchange students at the Faculty of Law

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures/seminars.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Each student must give a short presentation in a lecture/seminar.

Mandatory paper of maximum 1500 words (excluding footnotes), of a topic announced during the course. The paper will be awarded a pass/no pass. No grade will be given. Students who have failed the paper will be given an opportunity to write a new paper prior to the exam

Forms of Assessment

Examination Support Material

Support materials allowed during exam:

See section 3-5 of the Supplementary Regulations for Studies at the Faculty of Law at the University of Bergen.

Special regulations about dictionaries:

According to the Regulations for Studies, one dictionary is permitted support material during the examination. Bilingual dictionaries containing for example both Norwegian-English and English-Norwegian are considered as one dictionary.

Bilingual dictionaries to/from the same two languages - for example Norwegian-English/English-Norwegian - in two different volumes are also considered as one dictionary (irrespective of publisher or edition).

Dictionaries as described above cannot be combined with any other types of dictionaries.

Any kind of combination which makes up more than two physical volumes is forbidden.

In case a student has a special need for any other combination than the above mentioned, such combination has to be clarified with/approved by the course coordinator minimum two weeks before the exam. Students who have not been granted permission to have a special combination minimum two weeks before the exam will be subject to the usual regulations (Section 3-5) about examination support materials.

Grading Scale

A - E for passed, F for failed.

Assessment Semester

Exams are held in teaching semesters only. Students who completed the exam in the teaching semester, but did not achieve a pass grade, or who due to Illness, pregnancy or other special circumstances were unable to sit the exam, are entitled to (re)sit the exam the following semester.

Course Evaluation

According to administrative arrangements for evaluating courses at the Law Faculty

Course Coordinator

Professor Synne Sæther Mæhle.