Universität Wien

180171 VO Law, Power, Violence (2016W)

An introduction to the philosophy of law and politics

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie

In the 1920‘s and later Carl Schmitt, a highly influential jurist and political scientist, stressed the idea that any kind of reflection on law had to bear in mind that law arises and exists within the bounds of political power. The term used in this context is pouvoir constituant; according to Schmitt any consideration of law had to refer to political power and authority behind the law as its basis. Therefore Schmitt looked down contemptuously on the term law. Instead he preferred the Greek noun nomos, although it means nothing else than law, and overloaded it in a very peculiar way. Even though Schmitt‘s positions are dubious because of various reasons (and we shall talk about these reasons in detail), they are taken up in current debates on law, state and alleged as well as real threats of terror/ism. But also different ways of looking at law have to accept that it consists of norms aiming to force someone to do or not to carry out something. To impose these demands in society means of coercion provided by the state or other types of political institutions are necessary. In this respect law has always to deal with force, violence, power, therefore politics. But why are legal norms valid, how are they pushed through and by whom? Can all that be reduced on power plays? Which types of relation between politics and law can be thought or described? Does law depend at any time and in any case on political decisions, processes and balances of power, or does it also display some momentum of its own? Might it have to do with justice, at least sometimes? And what’s justice supposed to mean? The lecture is dedicated to questions of this nature and makes an attempt to develop various ways of thinking about law, especially in respect of fundamental issues.
Moodle

Details

Language: German

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

ACHTUNG!! Am 31.10.2016 entfällt die LV wegen Krankheit!!
Ersatztermin ist der 17.11.2016 in der Zeit 16.45-18.15 im HS 3 D, 3. Stock, NIG, Philosophie

  • Monday 10.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal II NIG Erdgeschoß
  • Monday 17.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal II NIG Erdgeschoß
  • Monday 24.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal II NIG Erdgeschoß
  • Monday 07.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal II NIG Erdgeschoß
  • Monday 14.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal II NIG Erdgeschoß
  • Thursday 17.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Monday 21.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal II NIG Erdgeschoß
  • Monday 28.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal II NIG Erdgeschoß
  • Monday 05.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal II NIG Erdgeschoß
  • Monday 12.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal II NIG Erdgeschoß
  • Monday 09.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal II NIG Erdgeschoß
  • Monday 16.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal II NIG Erdgeschoß
  • Monday 23.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal II NIG Erdgeschoß
  • Monday 30.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal II NIG Erdgeschoß

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Preparation of a differentiating and critically reflected, therefore: philosophical access to subjects as law, politics/policy/polity, state and fundamental rights; introduction into central topics of philosophy of politics and law; methodical and systematic development of relevant problems on the basis of specific texts by means of critically philological proceedings as well as such of conceptual history and conceptual criticism.
Methods: lecture, textual analysis, film clips, discussion

Assessment and permitted materials

Written exam; collaboration during the lecture will be taken in consideration (only in a positive way).

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Knowledge of the main contents of the lecture; reflected consideration of them (this aspect will also be the most important criterion for marks).

Examination topics

Topics of the lecture; as an alternative (attendance recommended in this respect); as an alternative: Donhauser, Gerhard: Wer hat Recht? Eine Einführung in die Rechtsphilosophie (Wien 2016).

Reading list

Arendt, Hannah, Über die Revolution (3. Aufl. München 2013).
Benjamin, Walter: Zur Kritik der Gewalt, in: Benjamin, Walter: Aufsätze, Essays, Vorträge (= Benjamin, Walter, Gesammelte Schriften II, 1, hg. v. Rolf Tiedemann u. Hermann Schweppenhäuser; Frankfurt am Main 1991) 179–203.
Butler, Judith, Die Macht der Geschlechternormen und die Grenzen des Menschlichen (Frankfurt am Main 2011).
Derrida, Jacques, Gesetzeskraft. Der „mystische Grund der Autorität (2. Aufl. Frankfurt am Main 1992).
Donhauser, Gerhard: Angst und Schrecken. Beobachtungen auf dem Weg vom Ausnahmezustand zum Polizeistaat in Europa und den USA (Wien 2015).
Donhauser, Gerhard: Türhüter. Wie Recht wird, was es ist (Wien 2013).
Donhauser, Gerhard: Wer hat Recht? Einführung in die Rechtsphilosophie (Wien 2016).
Dworkin, Ronald: Gerechtigkeit für Igel. Aus dem Amerikan. von Robin Celikates u. Eva Engels (Frankfurt am Main 2012).
Fögen, Marie Theres: Das Lied vom Gesetz (München 2007).
Foucault, Michel: Überwachen und Strafen. Die Geburt des Gefängnisses (Frankfurt am Main 1976).
Holzleithner, Elisabeth, Gerechtigkeit (Wien 2009).
Kirste, Stephan: Einführung in die Rechtsphilosophie (2. Aufl. Darmstadt 2010).
MacKinnon, Catharine A., Towards a Feminist Theory oft he State (2nd ed. London 1991).
Nussbaum, Martha C.: Die Grenzen der Gerechtigkeit. Behinderung, Nationalität und Spezieszugehörigkeit. Aus dem Amerikanischen v. Robin Celikates u. Eva Engels (Berlin 2010).
Sandel, Michael, Gerechtigkeit. Wie wir das Richtige tun. Aus dem Amerikanischen v. Helmut Reuter (Berlin 2013).
Schmitt, Carl: Der Begriff des Politischen. Text von 1932 mit einem Vorwort und drei Corollarien (3. Aufl. der Ausg. v. 1963. Berlin 1991.
Singer, Peter: Praktische Ethik. Aus dem Englischen übers. v. Oscar Bischoff (2., rev. u. erw. Aufl. Stuttgart 1994).

Association in the course directory

BA M 6.4

Last modified: Sa 10.09.2022 00:19