Philosophy (PHIL) 482

Jurisprudence (Revision 2)

Status:

Temporarily closed, effective February 16, 2023

Delivery mode:

Individualized study online

Credits:

Areas of study:

Arts or Humanities

Prerequisites:

None. But upper level undergraduate work in philosophy and/or legal studies is strongly recommended.

Precluded:

PHIL 482 is a cross-listed course—a course listed under 2 different disciplines— LGST 482. (PHIL 482 cannot be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for LGST 482)

Challenge:

PHIL 482 is not available for challenge.

Faculty:

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Coordinator:

Veronica Fynn Bruey

Overview

PHIL 482: Jurisprudence is an examination of fundamental philosophy of law principles underlying the Canadian (common law) legal system, along with related traditional objections and contemporary critical theories: feminist, Aboriginal and other. Topics include developing a critical philosophical approach; defining law; morality versus law; theories of liberty, autonomy, rights, justice and equality; culture, nationalism and colonialism; the rule of law and civil disobedience; and the impact of formal adjudication versus alternative dispute resolution.

Outline

Unit 1: The Nature of Jurisprudence
Unit 2: Differences Between Morality and Law
- Part I: Defining Law
- Part II: Distinguishing Law and Morality
- Part III: Four Main Approaches to Law
Unit 3: Theories of Liberty and Autonomy
Unit 4: Theories of Rights and Justice
Unit 5: Law and Equality
Unit 6: Culture versus Law, Nationalism and Colonialism
Unit 7: The Rule of Law and Civil Disobedience
- Part I: The Rule of Law
- Part II: Civil Disobedience
Unit 8: Adjudication versus Mediation
Unit 9: Conclusion

Evaluation

To receive credit for PHIL 482, you must complete all of the assignments, and obtain a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Activity	Weight
Assignment 1: Written answers to one Study Question from each of Units 1–4.	15%
Assignment 2: Outline and short essay; the topic must be chosen from subjects in Units 1–5	20%
Assignment 3: Written answers to one Study Question from each of Units 5–8	15%
Assignment 4: A précis (a plan for the Assignment 5 long essay)	10%
Assignment 5: A long essay; the essay topic can be chosen from subjects in Units 1–8	40%
Total	100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.

Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.

Opened in Revision 2, June 24, 2019

Updated August 14, 2023

View previous revision

Philosophy (PHIL) 482

Overview

Outline

Evaluation

Materials

Other Materials

Important links