PHILOSOPHY of LAW

Course Outline
Atty. J.A. O. Miranda

Reference material:
Any book on Legal Philosophy or The Philosophy of Law

I. The Nature of Law

a. Conceptual Analysis of Law
b. Statute vis-à-vis Law
c. Rule of Law
d. Law as Rules and Process
e. Characteristics of Law

II. Kinds of Law

a. Philippine Legal System
b. Hierarchy of Laws in the Philippines
c. Divine Human Law
d. Natural and Positive Law
e. Common law vis-à-vis Civil Law
f. Criminal Law vis-à-vis Civil Law
g. Statutory Law vis-à-vis Case law
h. Private Law vis-à-vis Public Law
i. Substantive vis-à-vis Procedural Law

III. Theories of Law

a. Law and Religion
b. Law and Customs
c. Legal Positivism
d. Legal Realism

IV. Approaches in understanding philosophical nature of law

a. Practical Point of Law
b. Selection of Viewpoint
c. Analytical Approach
d. Categorical and Historical approach

V. Ends and Effects of Laws

a. Justice
b. Equity
c. Equality
d. Human Rights
e. Morality

VI. Constructive and Interpretation of Law

a. Stages of Interpretation
b. Concept of Paradigm
c. Conventionalism
d. Legal Pragmatism
e. Law as Integrity