Legal Studies (LGST) 482

Jurisprudence (Revision 1)

LGST 482 Course Cover

Revision 1 is closed for registrations, see current revision

Delivery Mode: Individualized study online

Credits: 3

Area of Study: Humanities

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

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

Faculty: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences

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LGST 482 is not available for challenge.

Questions about this course? Contact the course professor: Dale Dewhurst.

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Overview

LGST 482: Jurisprudence. An examination of fundamental philosophy of law principles underlying the Canadian (common law) legal system, related traditional objections and contemporary critical theories: feminist, Aboriginal and other. Topics include developing a critical philosophical approach; defining law; morality v. 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 v. 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 LGST 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 Credit 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.

Course Materials

Textbook

Freedman, M.D.A. 2014. Lloyd’s Introduction to Jurisprudence (9th ed.). London: Sweet & Maxwell.

Other Materials

The course materials include an electronic version of the Study Guide and Student Manual (available in the Moodle course site) and a book of readings.

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 1, July 28, 2009.