Course Details

Philosophy of Law 2

GS0885

Course
Philosophy of Law 2
Code
GS0885
Academic Year
2025/2026
Curriculum Year
2023/2024
Degree Programme
LAW
Curriculum
A001 - GENERICO
Course coordinator
Lecturers
Credits
6
Lecture Hours
44
Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)
IUS/20 - Philosophy of Law
Course Type
Single-subject learning activity
Course Delivery
OBB - Obbligatoria
Year
3
Teaching period
Secondo Semestre
Campus
ALESSANDRIA
Teaching language
Italian
Course Contents
The aim of the course is to analyse the transformations of the principle of legality in criminal law. Particularly it will focus on the role of the judge in the development of criminal law. From this perspective, students will deal with the complex topic of the judicial interpretation and its limits.
Reference Texts
For attending students: H.L.A. Hart, Il concetto di diritto, Einaudi, 1991, 146-159. H. Kelsen, La dottrina pura del diritto, Einaudi, 1966, Chapter VIII, 381-390, M. Vogliotti, Dove passa il confine? Sul divieto di analogia nel diritto penale, Giappichelli, 2011 and Id., Lo scandalo dell'ermeneutica per la penalistica moderna, in «Quaderni fiorentini per la storia del pensiero giuridico moderno», 2015, 131-181. A reader will be provided during class (with judgements). For not attending: H.L.A. Hart, Il concetto di diritto, Einaudi, 1991, 146-159, H. Kelsen, La dottrina pura del diritto, Einaudi, 1966, Chapter VIII, 381-390, G. Zaccaria, La giurisprudenza come fonte di diritto: un'evoluzione storica e teorica, in Id., La comprensione del diritto, Laterza, 2012, p. 4-28; F. Palazzo, Legalità penale: considerazioni su trasformazione e complessità di un principio “fondamentale”, in «Quaderni fiorentini per la storia del pensiero giuridico moderno», vol. 36, t. 2, 2007, 1279-1329, F. Viola - G. Zaccaria, Diritto e interpretazione, Laterza, 1999, 175-237, M. Vogliotti, Lo scandalo dell'ermeneutica per la penalistica moderna, in «Quaderni fiorentini per la storia del pensiero giuridico moderno», 2015, 131-181; Id., La nuova legalità penale e il ruolo della giurisdizione. Spunti per un confronto, in «Sistema penale», 2020, 1-24; M. Vogliotti, Nuovi problemi e nuove soluzioni per la penalistica contemporanea, in Diritto penale contemporaneo, 2023; V. Zagrebelsky, La Convenzione europea dei diritti dell’uomo e il principio di legalità nella materia penale, in V. Manes - V. Zagrebelsky (eds), La Convenzione europea dei diritti dell’uomo nell’ordinamento penale italiano, Giuffrè, 2011, 69-107. Also to be studied carefully the following judgements: 1. ECHR, S.W. c. Great Britain, 22 November 1995; 2. Corte costituzionale, judgment 230/2012.
Learning Outcomes
The course aims to investigate the current transformations of criminal law, illustrating, in particular, the role of the judge.
Prerequisites
No
Teaching Methods
Socratic method, flipped classroom. It will be organized a moot court.
Additional Information
Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/servicesstudents-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.
Assessment Methods
The exam is oral and aims not only to verify the learning of the course content, but also to evaluate the argumentative skills, analysis and personal reflection.
Detailed Syllabus
The aim of the course is to analyse the transformations of the principle of legality in criminal law. Particularly it will focus on the role of the judge in the development of criminal law. From this perspective, students will deal with the complex topic of the judicial interpretation and its limits.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Understanding characteristics of legal interpretation and argumentation.
Last update:09-09-2026 00:14:31