Philosophy of Crime and Punishment

SLN #: 73535
Course Prefix: LAW-791
Course Section: 017
Credit Hours: 2
Instructor(s): Murphy
Course Books: View List of Books

Course Description:
The Philosophy of Crime and Punishment (2 credits). This seminar will explore such topics as the nature of punishment, the justification of punishment, the emotions relevant to punishment (for example: should expressions of remorse lower the sentence for some crimes?), excuses and justifications, and possible alternatives to punishment. Readings will be mainly from the most important and influential 20th and 21st century philosophers of punishment with perhaps some literature and a few legal cases of philosophical interest. The seminar is an offering in what might be called "law and humanities" and will not be doctrinal in a traditional legal sense. I do not allow the use of laptop computers in my seminars (I want eye contact conversations with students, not dictations to stenographers) and expect all students to attend the first session ready to discuss the reading assigned for that meeting.

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 2
Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
Written Assignment: Seminar Paper
Graduation Writing Requirement: No
Flexible/Upper-Level Writing Requirement: Yes
Skills Requirement: No
Simulation Course: No
Experiential Learning: No
Seminar: Yes
Prerequisite: None
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Limited Enrollment Number: 15
Final Exam Given: No
Paper Or In-Class Presentation: Seminar Paper
Participation Points: Yes
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies
Additional Attendance Policy: ATTENDANCE REQUIRED. CONSULT LAW SCHOOL POLICIES FOR PENALTIES FOR POOR ATTENDANCE.

* The law school has a policy that is used to calculate credit hours. Please see the Statement of Student Policies.