Laurenz Ramsauer

The notion of Human Rights has become one of the most prominent conceptions in modern political language – both as a widely popular normative standard and as the object of much criticism. In this course, we will explore some fundamental issues in the philosophical foundations of human rights alongside their implementation in international human rights law and their historical development, as well as some popular criticisms. This course will be of interest to interested in social, legal and political philosophy, international relations, as well as to students considering law school. (A)

Humanity faces a climate crisis. Its effects are already tangible, including a loss of biodiversity and wildlife, rising sea levels and the disappearance of traditional living space, the accumulation of extreme weather events, and increased migration due to growing hostility of previously agreeable and fertile natural environments. And this is nothing to speak of the potentially catastrophic effects of global heating yet to come. In this course, we will discuss both historically influential and recent works that can help us get a better understanding of the ethical challenges of our current situation. Our discussions will center around three thematic questions: What is our relation to nature? In what sense, if any, is climate change a matter of justice? And what are the right ethical ways of addressing our current environmental predicament? (A)

Philosophers engaged in what we call “critical theory” have traditionally been committed to one or another version of the thought that theory can be emancipatory. Over the last decades – arguably centuries – this commitment to a critical theory has developed into a lively philosophical tradition with a series of core texts at its foundation. In this course, we will carefully read through the most influential works within this tradition, focusing especially on what has become known as the Frankfurt School and its origins. Our readings will include works by Hegel, Freud, Fanon, Marx, Lukács, Horkheimer, Adorno and Marcuse, among others. Overarching themes of our discussion will be the relations between knowledge and emancipation, theory and practice. (A)

Students writing senior essays register once for PHIL 29901, in the Autumn Quarter, and once for PHIL 29902, in the Winter Quarter. The Senior Seminar meets for two quarters, and students writing essays are required to attend throughout.

Students writing senior essays register once for PHIL 29901, in the Autumn Quarter, and once for PHIL 29902, in the Winter Quarter. The Senior Seminar meets for two quarters, and students writing essays are required to attend throughout.

Topic: The Nature of Law

Why should we think legal rules have any authority in the first place? And if so, what kind of practical authority do they have? In this course, we will cover the key debates in philosophy of law that have shaped the discipline since the second half of the 20th century. These debates center around the relation between positive law and morality and the authority of legal rules. We will read some of the most influential works contemporary legal theory, including work by H.L.A. Hart, Ronald Dworkin, Joseph Raz, Julie Dickson, John Finnis, Lon Fuller, Gustav Radbruch and Mark Murphy, as well as recent responses to their arguments. In considering the relation between law and morality, we will also consider such questions as: what is necessary for a social rule to be action-guiding? is it sensible to speak of several types of normativity? what is the nature of legal ‘validity’? and does the rule of law (or ‘legality’) have any intrinsic value? This course would be of interest to students who want a grasp of contemporary issues in philosophy of law as a background to advanced work in moral, social and political philosophy, as well as to students interested in graduate work in legal philosophy. The course will also provide helpful background knowledge to students considering law school.