This course examines a number of issues that lie at the intersection of law, ethics, and political theory: the origin and justification of rights and obligations; the different interpretations of justice, equality, and freedom; the different theoretical frameworks for the discussion of right, such as those of Kant, Hegel, Marx, Rawls, Contractarianism and Utilitarianism. To be also dealt with are philosophical theories of rights in relation to such notions as human action, identity, freedom of the will, responsibility and the applicability of such theories in the areas of civil rights, criminal law, gender equality, minority rights, racial and ethnic discrimination.
