B CUSP 131
Various topics designed to respond to curricular interests and needs for first-year students. Offered: AWSp.
The title of the course is "Law, Philosophy & Society". This will consist of a cross-cultural comparison of the philosophical (including religious) underpinnings of Western, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern societies, as a whole. The course will begin with a discussion of philosophical analysis in general, and will then proceed to an examination of its application in a cultural context as a means of understanding the nature and characteristics of a society's legal system and laws.
Student learning goals
Understand the process of philosophical analysis.
Understand how philosophical analysis has been applied to the fields of law and politics.
Obtain an understanding of the major philosophical belief systems in these three general areas of the world, and the explanations for these differences.
Understand how to research the history of the legal system of a nation, and be able to explain its characteristics in terms of the interplay of historical events and philosophical influences on that nation.
Obtain an appreciation of the differences among various cultures, and explanations for those differences.
General method of instruction
Lectures, readings, discussions. The students will do a final project in which they do the background research on a selected nation and present the results of their research to the class as a whole. This will be a team project.
A mind open to the concept of cultural diversity and an interest in exploring explanations for this.
Class assignments and grading
Readings, and exercises applying the concepts set forth in the readings. A final group project presentation on a selected nation, as explained above.
Class participation, in terms of adding to class discussions and regularly attending class. In-class group exercises and individual take-home exercises. A final group project presentation.