PHILOSOPHY OF LAW

SY 2023-2024
Associate Solicitor Aaron S. Gemora

COURSE SYLLABUS

I. PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS

1. Philosophy and the Law

2. Nature of Philosophy
3. Reason and Spirit of the Law
a. Alonzo vs. IAC, 150 SCRA 259, May 28, 1987
b. League of Cities vs. COMELEC, 608 SCRA 636, Dec. 21, 2009
c. Dumaguete Cathedral Credit Cooperative vs. CIR, 610 SCRA
652, Jan. 22, 2010
4. Brief History of the Law
5. Structure of our Legal System
a. Luzon Stevedoring Corporation vs. Social Security
Commission, 34 SCRA 178, July 31, 1970
b. Planas vs. Gil, 67 Phil. 62, (1939)
6. The Executive
a. DENR vs. DENR Region 12 Employees, 409 SCRA 359
7. The Legislative
a. Occena vs. COMELEC, 95 SCRA 759
b. Executive Secretary vs. CA, 429 SCRA 81
8. The Judiciary
a. Angara vs. Electoral Commission, G.R. No. 45081, July 15,
1936
b. Association of Small Landowners vs. Secretary of Agrarian
Reform, G.R. No. 78742, July 14, 1989
9. Constitutional Commissions
a. Commission on Human Rights Employees’ Association vs.
CHR, 444 SCRA 300, Nov. 25, 2004
1. Civil Service Commission
a. Cerilles vs. CSC, 846 SCRA 15 (2017)
 b. Luego vs. CSC, G.R. No. L-69137, Aug. 5, 1986
2. Commission on Elections
a. Gallardo vs. Tabamo, G.R. No. 104848, Jan. 29, 1993
3. Commission on Audit
a. Dingcong vs. Guingona, G.R. No. 76044, June 28, 1988
b. Blue Bar vs. Tantuico, 163 SCRA 716

II. SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT

1. Classical Theories
a. Natural Law
b. Legal Positivism
c. Positivism and the Separation Thesis

2. Modern Theories
a. Legal Realism
b. The Path of Law
c. Bad Man Theory
d. Legal Interpretivism
e. Pure Theory of Law

III. LAW AND GOVERNMENT

1. Rudiments of a State
a. Bacani and Matoto vs. National Coconut Corp., et. al., 100
Phil. 468, Nov. 29, 1956
2. Doctrine of Parens Patriae
a. Gerochi vs. Dept. of Energy, 527 SCRA 696, July 17, 2007
b. Southern Luzon Drug Corporation vs. DSWD, 824 SCRA 164,
Apr. 25, 2017
3. Classification of Government
4. Inherent Powers of a State
a. Police Power
1. Sangalang vs. IAC, 176 SCRA 719, Aug. 25, 1989
2. Lozano vs. Martinez, 146 SCRA 323
 b. Eminent Domain
1. Republic vs. Ortigas and Company, 717 SCRA 601 (2014)
2. Capitol Subdivision Inc. vs. Province of Negros, 7 SCRA 60
c. Taxation
1. Lopez vs. Auditor General, 20 SCRA 655
2. CIR vs. Algue, Inc. 158 SCRA 9, Feb. 17, 1988
5. Sovereignty
a. Arigo vs. Swift, 735 SCRA 102 (2014)
b. Shauf vs. CA, 191 SCRA 713 (1990)
6. Legitimacy
a. In Re: Saturnino V. Bermudez, 145 SCRA 160, Oct. 24, 1986
7. Constitutionalism and Constitutional Supremacy
a. Regalado vs. Yulo, G.R. No. 42935, Feb. 15, 1935
b. Francisco vs. House of Representatives, G.R. No. 160261, Nov.
10, 2003
c. Casela vs. CA, G.R. No. L-26754, Oct. 16, 1970
d. Manila Prince Hotel vs. GSIS, 267 SCRA 408, Feb. 3, 1997
8. Rule of Law
a. People vs. Veneracion, 249 SCRA 244, Oct. 12, 1995
b. Villavicencio vs. Lukban, 39 Phil. 778, Mar. 25, 1919
c. Director of Forestry vs. Muñoz, 23 SCRA 1183, June 28, 1968
9. Republicanism
10. Public Accountability
11. Democracy
a. Guido vs. Rural Progress Administration, 84 Phil. 847

IV. LAW AND MORALITY

1. Moral Foundations of Law

a. Utilitarianism
b. Deontological Theory
c. Virtue Jurisprudence
2. Secular and Religious Morality
3. Freedom of Expression
4. Obscenity and Pornography
V. LAW AND EQUALITY

1. Principles of Equality
a. Garcia vs. Drilon and Garcia, G.R. No. 179267, June 25, 2013
2. Right and Equality
3. Human Rights
4. Equality Before the Law
a. Serrano vs. Gallant Maritime Services, Inc., 582 SCRA 254
(2009)
b. Ichong vs. Hernandez, G.R. No. L-7995, May 31, 1957
c. Ormoc Sugar Central vs. City of Ormoc, G.R. No. L-23794,
Feb. 17, 1968

VI. LAW AND JUSTICE

1. Theories of Justice
a. Utilitarian Theory of Justice
b. Libertarian Theory of Justice
c. Justice as Fairness
2. Justice as Inherent Component of Law
3. Socialism vs. Capitalism
4. Social Justice

VII. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

1. Crime and its Nature

2. Guilt and Innocence
a. People vs. Maqueda, G.R. No. 112983, Mar. 22, 1995
b. People vs. Montemayor, 404 SCRA 228, June 18, 2003
3. Justification and Excuse
4. Theories of Criminal Law and Punishment
People vs. Estrada, 333 SCRA 699, June 19, 2000
Magno vs. CA, 210 SCRA 471, June 26, 1992
5. Due Process
 a. Ynot vs. IAC, 148 SCRA 659, Mar. 20, 1987
b. Suntay vs. People, 101 Phil. 833
c. Associated Communications and Wireless Services, Ltd. vs.
Dumlao, 392 SCRA 269
6. Death Penalty

VIII. TORTS AND DAMAGES

1. Justice, Compensation, and Tort

a. Baksh vs. CA, 219 SCRA 115, Feb. 19, 1993
b. Mercury Drug Corporation vs. Baking, 523 SCRA 184
2. Theories of Tort Liability
a. Guillang vs. Bedania, 588 SCRA 73 (2009)
b. Picart vs. Smith, 37 Phil. 809, Mar. 15, 1918
3. Causation and Liability
a. Añonuevo vs. CA, 441 SCRA 24, Oct. 20, 2004
b. Cruz vs. CA, 282 SCRA 188, Nov. 18, 1997
c. BPI Express Card Corporation vs. CA, 296 SCRA 260, Sept. 25,
1998
d. Zenith Insurance Corporation vs. CA, 185 SCRA 398, May 14,
1990
e. Arco Pulp and Paper vs. Lim, 727 SCRA 275 June 25, 2014
4. Acts of Commission, Acts of Omission
a. Dulay vs. CA, 243 SCRA 220 (1995)

IX. LEGAL PHILOSOPHY AND LEGAL EDUCATION

1. Value of Legal Philosophy

2. The Ends of Legal Education