The Nature of Law

The Nature of Law

In this course, Professor Kevin Toh (UCL), explores the nature of law. In the first module, we look at how we might address questions on the nature of law. In the second module, we examine John Austin’s command theory of law. In the third module, we discuss another legal positivist theory from H. L. A. Hart, before turning to Ronald Dworkin’s natural law theory in the fourth module. In the fifth and final module, we take a closer look at implicit law, and investigate ways in which we might progress theorising about the nature of law.

The Nature of Law

In this module, we introduce thinking about the nature of law, focusing in particular on (i) enquiries on the nature of something (ii) enquiries on the nature of law (iii) varieties of laws and norms which govern our lives (iv) theological voluntarism (v) controversies concerning the categorisation of rules, and the nature of law.