Course overview
Crime and Punishment is an introduction to the philosophy of criminal law. The course critically engages with philosophical ideas and principles that have shaped liberal legal theory. We consider the nature and scope of law, the role of the community in sentencing, and the justification of punishment. A special focus will be areas where liberal theory encounters controversy, e.g., pornography (free speech conflicts with harm to women), the criminalization of drugs (moralism conflicts with autonomy). The course would suit law students interested in the foundations of their discipline, and anyone with an interest in legal or moral theory.