LEGAL LOGIC AND ARGUMENTATION
The Logic and legal argumentation course is a legal philosophical subject (IUS/20) intended to provide law students with interpretative and argumentative skills required to practice any legal profession. To that end, the course’s objectives are: 1) to provide the students an introduction to basic logical concepts; 2) to enable students to master the main interpretative and argumentative techniques employed in legal reasoning; 3) to enable students to analyze complex legal arguments, such as those found in judicial decisions and to autonomously develop lines of legal reasoning.
The main intended learning outcomes are: 1) knowledge and understanding: be familiar with and understand the fundamental concepts of legal logic and theory of interpretation; 2) ability to apply the acquired knowledge and understanding: to acquire the ability to use autonomously the techniques of legal reasoning; 3) autonomous assessment: to acquire the capacity to critically evaluate a legal argument, in particular those contained in the reasoning of judicial decisions; 4) Communication skills: to communicate the acquired knowledge in a full and exhaustive manner in short written papers; 5) learning skills: to be able to identify the main theoretical and logical problems underlying argumentation in general and legal argumentation in particular; to be aware of the relationship between these problems and the more general issues in legal theory (e.g. the relation between law and morality, the separation of State powers etc.)
The Logic and legal argumentation course is a legal philosophical subject (IUS/20) intended to provide law students with interpretative and argumentative skills required to practice any legal profession. To that end, the course’s objectives are: 1) to provide the students an introduction to basic logical concepts; 2) to enable students to master the main interpretative and argumentative techniques employed in legal reasoning; 3) to enable students to analyze complex legal arguments, such as those found in judicial decisions and to autonomously develop lines of legal reasoning.
The main intended learning outcomes are: 1) knowledge and understanding: be familiar with and understand the fundamental concepts of legal logic and theory of interpretation; 2) ability to apply the acquired knowledge and understanding: to acquire the ability to use autonomously the techniques of legal reasoning; 3) autonomous assessment: to acquire the capacity to critically evaluate a legal argument, in particular those contained in the reasoning of judicial decisions; 4) Communication skills: to communicate the acquired knowledge in a full and exhaustive manner in short written papers; 5) learning skills: to be able to identify the main theoretical and logical problems underlying argumentation in general and legal argumentation in particular; to be aware of the relationship between these problems and the more general issues in legal theory (e.g. the relation between law and morality, the separation of State powers etc.)
Canali
teacher profile teaching materials
- basic logical tools and concepts;
- legal logic and legal reasoning;
- the main canons of legal argumentation;
- the relations between legal and moral reasoning.
- 5 cfu: N. Bobbio, Contributi ad un dizionario giuridico, Giappichelli, Torino, 1994 (capitoli I, III, V, VI, VII, IX, X, XI, XIV, XV, XVIII).
Programme
The course will provide an extensive introduction to:- basic logical tools and concepts;
- legal logic and legal reasoning;
- the main canons of legal argumentation;
- the relations between legal and moral reasoning.
Core Documentation
- 7 cfu: G. Pino, L'interpretazione nel diritto, Giappichelli, Torino, 2021.- 5 cfu: N. Bobbio, Contributi ad un dizionario giuridico, Giappichelli, Torino, 1994 (capitoli I, III, V, VI, VII, IX, X, XI, XIV, XV, XVIII).
teacher profile teaching materials
As part of the lectures, an introduction will be offered:
- to conceptual tools useful for understanding, analyzing and evaluating the argumentation of legal practitioners (basic logical concepts; structure of legal reasoning; argumentative techniques; theory of interpretation);
- to the topic of so-called rights administration in the constitutional State (structure, logic, function and interpretation of rights; conflicts of rights and their solutions).
SEMINARS
Seminars will be used to explore with experts specific aspects of the topics covered in the lectures.
PRACTICAL WORK
Practical paths of analysis of judicial rulings in the light of the methodology and theoretical concepts introduced in the lectures will be carried out in practical work, with the active involvement of students.
F. Mastromartino (ed.), L'analisi dei diritti. Teoria e logica giuridica nella jurisprudence anglosassone, ETS, Pisa, 2022 (in press).
PLEASE NOTE.
Those who are required to earn 5 CFUs must exclude the following: chapters III, IV and V of G. Pino, L'interpretazione nel diritto; the texts of J. Bentham, H. Hart, S. Van Duffel in F. Mastromartino (ed.), L'analisi dei diritti.
Programme
LECTURESAs part of the lectures, an introduction will be offered:
- to conceptual tools useful for understanding, analyzing and evaluating the argumentation of legal practitioners (basic logical concepts; structure of legal reasoning; argumentative techniques; theory of interpretation);
- to the topic of so-called rights administration in the constitutional State (structure, logic, function and interpretation of rights; conflicts of rights and their solutions).
SEMINARS
Seminars will be used to explore with experts specific aspects of the topics covered in the lectures.
PRACTICAL WORK
Practical paths of analysis of judicial rulings in the light of the methodology and theoretical concepts introduced in the lectures will be carried out in practical work, with the active involvement of students.
Core Documentation
G. Pino, L'interpretazione nel diritto, Giappichelli, Torino, 2021.F. Mastromartino (ed.), L'analisi dei diritti. Teoria e logica giuridica nella jurisprudence anglosassone, ETS, Pisa, 2022 (in press).
PLEASE NOTE.
Those who are required to earn 5 CFUs must exclude the following: chapters III, IV and V of G. Pino, L'interpretazione nel diritto; the texts of J. Bentham, H. Hart, S. Van Duffel in F. Mastromartino (ed.), L'analisi dei diritti.
Type of delivery of the course
Classes will be held in-person.Type of evaluation
Written examination. teacher profile teaching materials
Programme
The course will provide an extensive introduction to legal reasoning, the main canons of legal argumentation. The course will be enriched by seminars and workshops in order to offer a more intensive treatment of some of the topics of the course.Core Documentation
G. Pino, L'interpretazione nel diritto, Giappichelli, Torino, 2021Type of delivery of the course
frontal classes, workshopsAttendance
attendance is not compulsory, but is strongly recommendedType of evaluation
written exam