PL 218 PHILOSOPHY OF LAW,

FALL 2004

ROBERT MCARTHUR

Office: 249 Lovejoy
Office hours: M-W-F: 9:30-11:00 am ; T: 2-3:30 pm
Phone: Campus: 3446; Home: 784-6692
E-mail: rlmcarth

 

 

 

 

 

TEXTS:

Adams, PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEMS IN THE LAW, 4th ed. (A)

Van Camp, EITHICAL ISSUES IN THE COURTS (VC)

Other assigned materials will be put on reserve (R)

NOTE:  You are expected to attend every class, to come prepared each day to discuss the readings assigned, to work diligently in your group, and to read and respond to class e-­mail. (You will need an active Colby e‑mail account and to check it at least three times each week.) After the permitted two absences, there will be a penalty for missing additional classes without previously having received permission. Class participation (15%), the exam and final (50%), and group project (15%) and the individual writing assignment (20%) will determine your semester grade.

 

STUDY GROUPS

The class will be divided into study groups of three or four students each.  Groups will be required to make a class presentation and to submit a position paper on the presentation.  Ground rules are as follows:

1.Groups will be formed during the first week.  I will assign individuals to groups.  However, if you have a person you want to be grouped with, let me know by e-mail no later than Friday, September 10 and I will do my best to place both of you in the same group.

2.During the second week, groups get their topics (the topic list is below).  I will post a sign up sheet on Monday Sept. 13; groups express preference by Wednesday, Sept. 15; after that I assign.

3.Each group will make a 20-minute presentation on their topic, including 5-10 minutes for questions.  A written summary of the presentation will be sent to the class by e-mail no later than 24 hours before the scheduled presentation.  These summaries should be no more than 2-4 pages.   The class presentation thus assumes that everyone has read the summary and should get quickly to the arguments in favor of the position of the group.

 

4.A finished position paper is due no later than two weeks after the presentation.  The paper introduces the issue, gives the group's position, and answers the most obvious views on the other side.  The position paper includes citations of sources--articles, books, and cases.  Standard legal citation form must be used.

 

5.The group will be graded on the summary, on the presentation, and on the position paper.

INDIVIDUAL ESSAYS:

An essay, on the philosophical issues in a legal case (approved in advance), will be due at the end of the semester (Wednesday, December 8).  These are research papers 6-10 pages in length.  They may not be on the same general topic as your group paper, but they can be on one of the topics of another group. Standard legal citation form must be used.  A copy of the court decision in the case (e.g., from Lexis Nexis) should be submitted with the essay.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Useful Web Resources:

Philosopher's Index (available from Miller Library WebPages) - a reasonably complete listing of all publications in philosophy.

Lexis/Nexis (available from Miller Library WebPages) - the standard source for legal cases, law review articles, statutes, and other information about the law. This is a gold mine.