School of Law and Governance

Central University of South Bihar

PHL 261 Philosophy-I L T P C
[Logic and Legal Reasoning]
Version: 1.1 4 0 0 4
Pre-requisites//Exposure Logic
co-requisites Command over English language
Semester IV
B.A. LL.B.(H)

Introduction to the course:

Reason seems an inseparable part of human life. The reason which is used to understand something, the same
reason can be misused to misunderstand the thing. Therefore, the study of logic provides some methods and
techniques to figure out the correctness of many different kinds of reasoning including our own. Logic is the
science of reasoning includes deduction, induction, critical thinking and symbolic logic. It has various
applications in the field of philosophy, law and foundations of science and mathematics. Validity and
invalidity, the basic rules of deduction, principles for the evaluation of inductive inference and so on remain
fundamentally the same in every field and do not change when applied in legal context. Any legal professional
would hence be benefited by some basic knowledge of logical reasoning.

In this background the aim of this course is to introduce students to the study of logic by teaching methods of
reasoning that can be used to improve the student’s ability to evaluate and craft arguments. This course
focuses on the nature of logical reasoning, placing special emphasis on the relation between logical reasoning
and legal reasoning. The tools taught in this course will enhance the student’s critical thinking skills and assist
them in producing more clear and persuasive legal writing and thus will make a permanent and deeply
satisfying contribution to the intellectual life of every student.

Objective to the course:

 To study the basic principles of logic.

 To understand the influence of logical principles on the paradigm of legal
reasoning.

Teaching Learning Method:

 Lecture Method
 Question and Answer Method

1
Evaluation Scheme:

 Continuous Assessment-30%
 Mid-Term-20%
 End-Term -50%

COURSE OUTLINE

Module 1 -Definition and Scope of Logic

 Provisional Definition of Logic

 Relation of Language to Logic
 Basic Logical Concepts
 Division of Logic
 The Nature of Legal Reasoning
 Legal Reasoning as a Proper Subset of Logical Reasoning

Reading Material
 Copi, I.M., & Cohen, C., Introduction to Logic, 13th ed., Pearson Education Pvt.Ltd, 2009, pp
1-10.
 Hurley, Patrick.J, A Concise Introduction To Logic, 10th ed., Thomson Wardsworth, 2008.

Module II-Argument &Informal Fallacies

 Recognizing Argument
 Parts of Argument
 Evaluating Arguments
 Types of Argument-Deductive, Inductive
 Deductive and Inductive argument in Legal Reasoning
 Kinds of Disputes
 Understanding the Legal Dispute-Legal Professional as Problem Solver
 Dispute Resolution- Role of Definition
 Rules and Fallacies of Logical Definition
 Flaws in Arguments
 Fallacies
 Logic as a Testing Device- Role of Fallacies in Legal Reasoning

Reading Material

2
  Copi, I.M., & Cohen, C., Introduction to Logic, 13th ed., Pearson Education Pvt.Ltd, 2009, pp
71-105, 118-177.
 Hurley, Patrick.J, A Concise Introduction To Logic, 10th ed., Thomson Wardsworth, 2008.
 Thomson Anne., Critical Reasoning-A Practical Introduction, 2nded, Routledge Publication,
London, 2002, pp 1-88.
 Walton, Douglas.,Informal Fallacies, Pragmatics & Beyond, Companion Series, John
Benjamin’s Pub Co., 1987.
 Study material by course faculty (for Legal dispute, legal definition and role of fallacies in
legal reasoning).

Module III-Components of Deductive Reasoning

 Categorical Proposition, Concept of Class, Quantity, Quality, Distribution

 Square of Opposition and Immediate Inference
 Types of Syllogism-Pure, Mixed
 Rules for testing Syllogism and Fallacies
 Syllogistic Nature of Legal Reasoning-Categorical, Hypothetical, Disjunctive, Enthymeme
 Understanding the Legal Propositions

Reading Material
 Copi, I.M., & Cohen, C., Introduction to Logic, 13th ed., Pearson Education Pvt.Ltd, 2009, pp
180-215 & 224-260.
 Hurley, Patrick.J, A Concise Introduction To Logic, 10th ed., Thomson Wardsworth, 2008.
 Study material by course faculty (For Legal Propositions).
 Neil McCormick: Legal Reasoning and Legal Theory, Oxford University Press, Great
Clarendon Street, Oxford, 1999.

Module IV- Facets of Inductive Reasoning

 Relation of Induction and Deduction

 Definition and Types of Induction
 Inductive Syllogism
 Application of Inductive Reasoning in Law- The Use of Analogy and Generalization
 Formal and Material Grounds of Induction
 Causation in Legal Reasoning
 Hypothesis, Forms of Hypothesis, Condition for Valid Hypothesis
 Use of Hypothesis by Legal Professional in Dispute Resolution
 Probability and Rules for Estimation of Probability
 Probability in Law
 Method of Experimental Enquiry

Reading Materials

 Copi, I.M., & Cohen, C., Introduction to Logic, 13th ed., Pearson EducationPvt.Ltd, 2009, pp.
481-613.
 Hurley, Patrick.J, A Concise Introduction To Logic, 10th ed., Thomson Wardsworth, 2008.
 Neil McCormick: Legal Reasoning and Legal Theory, Oxford University Press, Great
Clarendon Street, Oxford, 1999.

Module V- Logic & Legal Reasoning

3
  Law, Court and Argument
 Understanding the nature of disputes and reasoning involved in decision making by court-
Deductive and Inductive.
 Method of inquiry and application of various facets of inductive reasoning in decision
process.
 Application of legal rule- the role of deductive reasoning

Reading Material

 Irving M Copi& Carl Cohen: Introduction to Logic, 9thed, 1998, Pearson Education Pvt. Ltd,
Delhi, pp 600-627.
 Hurley, Patrick.J, A Concise Introduction To Logic, 10th ed., Thomson Wardsworth, 2008.
 Neil McCormick: Legal Reasoning and Legal Theory, Oxford University Press, Great
Clarendon Street, Oxford, 1999.

Articles

 Robert H Schmidt, The influence of the legal paradigm on the development of logic, 40 S,
Tex, L. Rev 367- 391
 Kevan W. Sauders, What Logic can and cannot Tell us about Law, 73, Notre Dame. L. Rev,
668-79, 1998.
 McCormick, The nature of legal reasoning-A brief reply to Dr. Wilson Legal Studies
International Journal for Societies of Law,1982, 286-296.
 Steven M. Quevedo, Formalist and Instrumentalist Legal Reasoning and Legal Theory 73 Cal
L. Rev 119, 124 (1985).
 Brewer, S., 1996, ‘Exemplary Reasoning: Semantics, Pragmatics, and the Rational Force of
Legal Argument by Analogy’, Harvard Law Review 109: 923–1028.
 Goodhart, A.L., 1930, ‘Determining the RatioDecidendi of a Case’, Yale Law Journal 40:
161–83.
 Dana Mackenzie, Addicted to Logic, American Scientist, Vol 87, May- June 1999, 31
 Douglas Groothusis, Postmodern fallacies A Response to MerlodWestphalThe Christian
Century Vol 120 July26, 2003.
 Sherwin, E., 1999, ‘A Defense of Analogical Reasoning in Law’, University of Chicago Law
Review 66: 1179–1197
 Simmonds, N., 1984, The Decline of Juridical Reason,Manchester: Manchester University
Press.
 Vincent Wellman, Practical Reasoning and Judicial Justification: Towards an Adequate
Theory, 57U. Colo L. Rew45(1985)47J.Legal Education 571.
 David R. Samuleson, Introducing legal reasoning, Journal of legal education.
 Wilson Huhn, The use and limits of syllogistic Reasoning in briefing cases, 42 Santa Clara L.
Rev. 813.
 Mary Massaron. Ross, A basis for legal reasoning, Journal of the Association of Legal
Writing Directors, 2006.

Table of Cases

 Maneka Gandhi v Union of India AIR 1978 SC 597

 Sunil Batra v Delhi Administration (1979) 1SCR 392
 D.K. Basu v State of West Bengal-AIR 1997 SC 610
 Tukaram v State of Maharastra-AIR 1979 SC 185
 P Ratiram v Union Of India-AIR 1994 SC 1844

4
  GianKaur v State of PunjabAIR 1996 SC 1257
 Shri MahilaGrahaUdoygLijjatPapad v Union of India&Anr Manu/SC/0992/1999
 Municipal Corporation of New Delhi v Female Workers (Mustterroll) Manu/SC/0164/2000
 PhulSingh v State of Hariyana Manu/SC/0203/1979
 T. K. Gopilal v State of Karnataka Manu/SC 0351/2000
 Virsa Singh v State of Punjab Manu/SC/0041/1958
 Bijendra Singh v State of U.P Manu/UP/0854/2003
 Shibu Soren v DayanandSahay and other AIR SC (2583) 2001
 Jagdish Saran and other v Union of India AIR 1980/SC/831
 BangloreWarer Supply Sewerage Board v A Rragappa Manu / SC/ 0257/ 1978
 S.L. Kapoor v Jagmohan (1981) ISCR 746-766
 State of UP v Synthetic & Chemicals Ltd-AIR 1980 SC614

Secondary Books

 Becker, Lawrence.C., “Analogy in Legal Reasoning”, Ethics, Vol. 83, No. 3, 1973, pp. 248-
255.
 Edward H. Levi, An Introduction to LegalReasoning, Chicago University Press, Chicago,
1984
 Gensler, Harry.J., Introduction to Logic, 2nded, Routledge, New York, 2010.
 Hurley, A Concise Introduction to Logic, Thomson Wadsworth, 2008.
 Louis Nizer, How to Prepare a Winning Case in “The Trial Masters: A Handbook on
Strategies and Tactics that Win Cases, Prentice Hall, 1999.
 Pirie, Madsen., How to win every argument: Use and abuse of Logic, Continuum
International Publishing Group, New York, 2006.
 Priest, Graham., Logic: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2000.
 Ramee, Neal., Logic and Legal Reasoning: A Guide for Law Students, 2003.
 Ruggero J. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers: A Guide to Clear Legal Thinking, 1997
 Scharffs, Brett.G., The Character of Legal Reasoning, 61 Wash. & Lee L. Rev. 2004, pp. 733-
786.
 Schreuer, Christoph., What is a Legal Dispute?
 Steven J. Burton, An Introduction to Law and LegalReasoning, Boston, 1995.
 Walton, Doughlas., Informal Logic: A Pragmatic Approach, Cambridge University Press,
2008.
 Weinreb, Lioyd.L., Legal Reason: The Use of Analogy in Legal Argument, Cambridge
University Press, 2005.

5
6