|
Saturday Schedule
Program
Annual
Meeting
Home
|
|
Saturday, January 4, 2003
|
4:00-5:45 p.m.
Section on Jurisprudence
Claire Finkelstein, University of Pennsylvania, Chair |
Virginia Suite A
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
Lobby Level |
Should Philosophy Be Taught in Law Schools?
Moderator:
Claire Finkelstein, University of Pennsylvania
Speakers: - Jules L. Coleman, Yale Law School
- Heidi M. Hurd, University of Illinois
- David J. Luban, Georgetown University
- Donald H. Regan, The University of Michigan
Most major law schools in the United States have faculty members with advanced degrees in philosophy. These faculty members, as well as others who are interested in philosophy, routinely offer courses in legal philosophy and related subjects. Some law schools allow or encourage their faculty members to offer pure philosophy courses to law students, not all of which are designed around topics of relevance to the law. In addition, the basic concepts of moral and political philosophy are routinely introduced in otherwise non-philosophical courses: law professors teaching basic first year classes, for example, might present philosophical ideas to supplement the more doctrinal class materials. These practices have been controversial. They are controversial among students, who are often impatient with theoretical readings and discussions that do not appear to be useful contributions to mastering the skills they will need for the bar examination and for their subsequent careers in practice. They are also controversial among law professors and administrators, some of whom also believe that the law school curriculum should be primarily practical in orientation. They are even sometimes controversial among philosophers, some of whom think that serious moral and political philosophy are technical subjects best left to experts focused uniquely on these fields. The purpose of this panel is to debate the merits of teaching philosophy in law schools. The speakers, both for and against, are all professional philosophers who are also members of a law school faculty.
Business Meeting at Program Conclusion
|
|