LEGAL METHODOLOGY

Antonio Punzi, Alessia Farano

Instructional goals

Understanding the uniqueness of the legal method. Learning the main legal categories of legal science (right; power; obligation; coercion). To raise critical awareness about contemporary legal issues. To develop logical and rhetorical skills in legal reasoning.

Prerequisites

Basic skills required by the degree course

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding: The course will provide – through course attendance and interactive activities – basic knowledges about the methodology of legal science, including legal categories and legal reasoning. Applying knowledge and understanding: The students will be able to detect all the philosophical implications arising from legal problems, as well as the formal structure of the legal reasoning. These skills will be tested during the oral exam, which will take place at the end of the course. Making judgements: The students, thanks to the methodological tools acquired during the classes, will be able to evaluate autonomously the topics discussed during the classes. Also, they will be able to frame from a philosophical standpoint the main theoretical legal problems, elicited by the ongoing challenges the contemporary legal systems need to face. Students’ critical thinking will be enhanced also through short essays uploaded on the institutional website (LUISSlearn). Communications Skills: This course will provide the students with the major terms and concepts in legal theory. The students will also be required to argue in a rhetorical-oriented way. These skills will be enhanced during exercitations and talks, where students will be asked to debate choosing one side. Learning skills: Students will be able to recognize the different methodological perspectives underlying the different approaches of law. Students will be able to acknowledge the relationship between the nature of law on the one hand and legal doctrines and institutions on the other, both in their legal studies and in their professional life.

Course Contents

Legal method Fundamental legal concepts Interpretation and argumentation in law.

Reference Books

G. Carcaterra, Presupposti e strumenti della scienza giuridica. Seconda edizione, Giappichelli, Torino 2012. A. Punzi, Prudentia iuris, Seconda edizione, Giappichelli, Torino 2016. A. Punzi (a cura di), Parole del diritto, Giappichelli, Torino 2019.

Teaching Methods

Teaching will include: Lectures; presentations made by students; film and documentary visions; cases analysis. Teaching activities will be supported by the use of digital taching tools available in the LUISS learn platform: LUISS learn wiki (collaboration tool) LUISS learn forum (discussion & practice tool) LUISS learn chat (discussion & practice tool) LUISS learn forum (discussion & practice tool)

Assessment Method

The exam will be an oral examination, with pre-term written examinations. Students will be encouraged to present written essays and to intervene during the classes.

Thesis assignment criteria

Manifestation of interest

Does the syllabus cover sustainability topics?

Yes

Week 1 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Session 1/On-line: The legal method and the natural method. Historical remarks. Session 1/On campus: The legal method and the natural method. Historical remarks. (interactive discussion) Session 2/On campus: Legal Methodology and conceptions of law ----- Reference books: Presupposti e strumenti della scienza giuridica: pp. 1-17; Parole del diritto: voce Scienza e diritto; filosofia e giurisprudenza Prudentia iuris pp. 4-8

Week 2 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Session 1/On-line: Legal positivism: History Differences Session 1/On campus: Contemporary insights: obedience vs. conscience; the reasons for obedience (interactive discussion) Session 2/On campus: Development of legal normativism ----- Reference books: Prudentia iuris: pp. 9-22 Presupposti e strumenti della scienza giuridica: pp. 17-32

Week 3 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Session 1/On-line: The Natural law renaissance – The Nurberg Trial Obedience vs. conscience: the reasons for conscience The Natural law theories Session 1/On campus: The concepts of natural law: Ancient Medieval Modern Session 2/On campus: Subjective rights ----- Reference books: Prudentia iuris: pp. 23-34 Presupposti e strumenti della scienza giuridica: pp. 11-13 Parole del diritto: voce Diritto soggettivo

Week 4 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Session 1/On-line: The Scandinavian Realism Session 1/On campus: The Americal legal realism Session 2/On campus: The sociological conceptions of law: The theory of institution (interactive discussion) ----- Reference books: Prudentia iuris: pp. 58-70 Presupposti e strumenti della scienza giuridica: pp. 13-15

Week 5 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Session 1/On-line: Realistic normativism Values and limits of legal certainty Session 1/On campus: law, morality, justice. The problem of ideology Session 2/On campus: The normative systems and the norms. Th fundamental deontic concepts (interactive discussion) ----- Reference books: Presupposti e strumenti della scienza giuridica: p. 35-45 Presupposti e strumenti della scienza giuridica: pp.16-29 Prudentia iuris: pp.35-57

Week 6 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Session 1/On-line: Imperativism Formalism: The normative sense of law. Law as reality and as ideology Session 1/On campus: The normative theory of law Session 2/On campus: The first level norms (interactive discussion) ----- Reference books: Presupposti e strumenti della scienza giuridica: 45-53 Presupposti e strumenti della scienza giuridica: pp. 21-34

Week 7 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Session 1/On-line: State and sovereignty Session 1/On campus: State of Exception Session 2/On campus: The second level norms: the norms of validity ----- Reference books: Presupposti e strumenti della scienza giuridica: 53-77 Prudentia iuris: pp. 70-82 Parole del diritto: voce Sovranità; eccezione

Week 8 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Session 1/On-line: Rules and principles Session 1/On campus: The normative theory of law beyond positive law Session 2/On campus: The costitutive norms the performatives ----- Reference books: Presupposti e strumenti della scienza giuridica: 89-126 Prudentia iuris: pp 83-97 Presupposti e strumenti: pp. 35-41

Week 9 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Session 1/On-line: Law beyond the state Session 1/On campus: Law beyond the state Session 2/On campus: Legal reasoning Logic and Rhetoric ----- Reference books: Prudentia iuris: pp. 98-109 Presupposti e strumenti della scienza giuridica: pp. 127-158

Week 10 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Session 1/On-line: Post national law between equality and difference Session 1/On campus: primary rules and secondary rules Session 2/On campus: Inductive and deductive reasoning ----- Reference books: Prudentia iuris: pp. 110-126 Presupposti e strumenti della scienza giuridica: pp. 159-184

Week 11 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Session 1/On-line: Law as a social technique Public vs. private Session 1/On campus: Law as a social technique (2) Session 2/On campus: The legal issue The factual issue ----- Reference books: Prudentia iuris: pp. 127-137 Presupposti e strumenti della scienza giuridica: pp 185-248

Week 12 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Session 1/On-line: Public discours and its limits Session 1/On campus: Truth and Democracy Session 2/On campus: The judjment Reference books: Prudentia iuris: pp. 138-149 Presupposti e strumenti della scienza giuridica: pp. 249-262 Parole del diritto: voce Giudizio