Sociology of law (2019/2020)

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to give the opportunity to the students to improve their understanding of the legal phenomenon as a social phenomenon.
In this sense, in the first part it wants to strength the awareness that law is in a strict relation with any other social function. To his end the lessons will analyze some fundamental topics:
- law and action;
- law and institutions;
- law and social roles;
- law and opinions.
The discussion of these issues will consolidate the understanding of the relation between law and other crucial areas of society: culture, economy, power institutions, mass-media.
In the special part, on Law and Economics, the peculiar relationship between these two social sciences will be highlighted. The purpose is to help the students to adopt a more critical attitude towards all forms of reductionism.

The class offers a general introduction to the legal phenomenon as social phenomenon, showing at the same time the impossibility to reduce law to power. For this reason the course will analyze come fundamental problems coming from philosophy, history, politics, literature and cinema.
In the special part the attention will be focused on Law and Economics literature, highlighting features, potentialities and limits of this research project, oriented to read law using the tools of economic analysis.

The oral examination, based on suggested bibliography, is oriented to evaluate student’s ability to discuss the topics of the course. 

The student must demonstrate:

- knowledge and understanding;

- ability to make judgements;

- communication skills;

- learning skills.