Course Catalogue

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The course covers the philosophy of (or dealing with) international human rights law. It introduces philosophical and interdisciplinary frameworks to analyse human rights law. Among these approaches are moral accounts, political approaches, approaches focusing on the institutional context, mixed accounts, and critical accounts adopting feminist, queer, and Marxist perspectives. Each account will be introduced in relation to a key normative concern it raises and responds to.

10 two-hour seminars.

This course is only available to LLB students.

Some knowledge of human rights law is recommended. Courses that would be suitable to provide such a basis include: European Human Rights Law, Human Rights Systems: Law and Legitimacy, Public International Law and Human Rights, Public International Law.

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One 5000 word essay on a topic of the student's choice, which may build on the 'Questions to Consider' outlined in the course document for each seminar.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The course aims to equip students to situate human rights law and institutions within their philosophical contexts. It exposes students to a wide range of theoretical and interdisciplinary frameworks that critically evaluate human rights law. The course also hones transferable skills of formulating effective philosophical questions and arguments about a legal topic. It encourages students to practice epistemic humility, to recognise and understand the limits to our own knowledge and how this might influence analysis and interpretation of questions on justice and human rights.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Distinguish between legal and philosophical questions about human rights

■ Situate human rights law within their philosophical context

■ Effectively formulate and present philosophical arguments about human rights

■ Explain at least one theoretical framework that critically evaluates human rights law in depth

■ Understand the limits to our own knowledge and how this might influence analysis and interpretation of human rights law

Submission of the summative assessment.