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Spring 2005 University of Dayton

PHILOSOPHY OF LAW

Instructor: Dr. Michael Payne

481 Hum, x-92840

1-937-229-2840

michael.payne@notes.udayton.edu

Office hours: 1:30 -3:00 P.M. Monday and Wednesday

Textbook:

J. Reiman, The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison
M. Payne, Philosophy of Law, 2003

Other materials:

Furman v. Georgia, Supreme Court of the United States, 1972

Roe v. Wade, Supreme Court of the United States, 1973

Grutter v. Bollinger, Supreme Court of the United States, 2003

Gratz v. Bollinger, Supreme Court of the United States, 2003

Lawrence v. Texas, Supreme Court of the United States, 2003

Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle, Supreme Court of the United States, 2007

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Course Description

This course introduces philosophical issues arising in the American criminal justice system and in American law. The course critically examines both legal and moral issues, and covers the following four sections:

1. Critique of the criminal justice system (Reiman).
2. Capital punishment.
3. Privacy and abortion.
4. Affirmative action and discrimination.

Requirements

Students will develop and defend their own views in class and in written essays on tests.

Tests will consist of explanation questions and of essays in which one must defend one's views with arguments. On the essays, only arguments, will be graded, not opinion.

There will be four tests, each worth 25%. There will be a test on each section of the course. There will be no make-up tests nor extra credit. The final exam date can be determined by consulting the University Exam Schedule for Winter 2005 at this link.

Class participation is important and could influence one's final grade.

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