Instructor(s): Vincent Chiao, Malcolm Thorburn

This course will introduce students to a range of topics in the philosophy of criminal law, including policing, the trial, and the prison. These topics will be introduced with attention to their history and development, as well as normative questions surrounding their operation. The course will be roughly divided into two parts. In the first few classes, students will be introduced to the history of criminal justice institutions and to some classical philosophical works about them. In the second part, students will read and discuss more contemporary topics in criminal justice, reading some descriptive works and a number of contemporary philosophical treatments.

Evaluation
Students will have two options. They may either write a set of shorter response pieces (seven responses of 1,000 words each, equally proportioned) to the weekly readings or they may write two (2) 1,000-word response pieces as well as a longer term paper (5,000 words); proportionally-weighted. Students who choose the term paper option will need to meet with instructors at least a month before the end of term to set out a paper outline and to discuss a proposed bibliography. An annotated bibliography must accompany the final term paper.
Academic year
2024 - 2025

At a Glance

First Term
Credits
3
Hours
2
Perspective course

Enrolment

Maximum
20

18 JD
2 LLM/SJD/MSL//SJD U

Schedule

Th: 2:10 - 4:00