Department of Philosophy

PHIL 725  (PHILOSOPHY OF LAW) SYLLABUS

Instructor:  Prof. Bontekoe, Sakamaki D304, 956-8783    Office Hrs:  M 1-3

Evaluation:  Your grade in the course will be entirely based upon a single substantial paper
    due on May 11th.

Required Texts
    Ronald Dworkin, Law's Empire            [LE]
    Duncan Kennedy, A Critique of Adjudication    [CA]
    Richard Posner, The Problems of Jurisprudence    [PJ]
    James Boyd White, Justice as Translation        [JT]

Supplementary Reading
    See the handout. You're not expected to read all of the material on this (partially)     annotated bibliography, of course, just what you feel would be of most value to you.
    (It's intended primarily as an aid to further research, to help you prepare your essays.)

 Schedule of Readings
Jan 12 - LE, pp. 1-113
Jan 26 - LE, pp. 114-224
Feb 2 - LE, pp. 225-312
Feb 9 - LE, pp. 313-413
Feb 23 - CA, pp. 1-96
Mar 2 - CA, pp. 97-179
Mar 9 - CA, pp. 180-280
Mar 16 - CA, pp. 280-376
Mar 30 - PJ, pp. 1-100
Apr 6 - PJ, pp. 101-196
Apr 13 - PJ, pp. 197-285
Apr 20 - PJ, pp. 286-392
Apr 27 - PJ, 393-469
May 4 - JT, pp. 22-86, 113-140, 215-225
May 11 - essay due


Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes but is not limited to submitting, in fulfillment of an academic requirement, any work that has been copied in whole or in part from another individual's work without attributing that borrowed portion to the individual; neglecting to identify as a quotation another's idea and particular phrasing that was not assimilated into the student's language and style, or paraphrasing a passage so that the reader is misled as to its source; [or] submitting the same written or oral material in more than one course without obtaining authorization from the instructors involved.... (The University of Hawai'i Student Conduct Code)  

Any significant instance of plagiarism will result in a student's failing the course.  Any student committing plagiarism will be reported as having done so to university officials.  Severe or repeated cases of plagiarism constitute grounds for expulsion from the university.


Disability Statement

If you feel you need reasonable accommodations because of the impact of a disability, please (i) contact the KOKUA Program, Room 013, QLCSS, 956-7511 or 956-7612; (ii) speak with me privately to discuss your specific needs.  I will be happy to work with you and the KOKUA Program to meet your access needs related to any documented disability you may have.


The Instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus schedule of readings if necessary.