Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW3158: Law and Philosophy

This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.

Module Aims

The module aims to develop your research skills. Above all, it aims to develop your critical analysis of existing arguments, and your creative ability to propose innovative solutions supported by persuasive reasoning. Since the topics will be chosen by the group, the module aims to develop your understanding of issues which are topical generally, and of particular importance to you.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Compare, analyse and synthesise the principal rules and theories relating to the given topic 2. Select and assess appropriate techniques of evaluation and to evaluate selected aspects of the given critically 3. Identify, explain and critically evaluate key issues in the given topic and to apply relevant rules and theories
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. Integrate and assess information from primary and secondary legal sources using appropriate interpretative techniques 5. Select, integrate and present coherently and reflectively, orally and in writing, relevant legal and theoretical arguments 6. Demonstrate knowledge of legal and philosophical concepts, and their political implications
Personal and Key Skills	7. Interact effectively and proactively within a learning group, to share information and ideas, and to manage conflict 8. Communicate and engage in debate effectively and accurately, orally and in writing, in a manner appropriate to the context 9. Work independently and to manage time efficiently in preparing for the prescribed learning activities and assessment 10. Manage relevant information and to develop own arguments and opinions with minimum guidance

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

The topics to be researched will be chosen by those taking this module, but suggestions include the following. Should animals have rights? Can punishment be justified? Is there such a thing as a just war? What can the rule of law learn from anarchy?

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
16.5	133.5	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	16.5	11 x 1.5 hour seminars
Guided Independent Study	80	Seminar preparation
Guided Independent Study	50	Essay writing
Guided independent study	3.5	Reflecting on feedback

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

We will discuss in seminar which resources are likely to be relevant to which topics have been chosen. But the following reading can be useful:

Blackburn, Ethics (OUP: 2003) (an introduction to ethics)

Singer, Practical Ethics, 3^rd edn (CUP: 2011) (ethical theory applied to a number of topics)

Fearn, Zeno and the Tortoise (Grove Press: 2002) (entertaining first introduction to philosophy)

We will not be restricted to Western philosophy – but that tradition does loom large. Good overviews include:

Russell, A History of Western Philosophy (Routledge: 2004)

Cottingham (ed), Western Philosophy: An Anthology (Blackwell: 1996)