COURSE MODULE

JURISPRUDENCE-I

COURSE CODE: 2BL333

SEMESTER –III

COURSE: B.A.;LL.B (Hons.) /B.COM.;LL.B (Hons.)

July 2021 to December 2021

Course Coordinator: Mr. Kushal Nandwani

Institute of Law

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Components of CCM

A. Course Title / Course Code / Teaching and Examination Schemes

B. Course Learning Outcome (CLO)
C. Course Syllabus
D. List of Books / Reference books / E-books
E. Course related Important Web-links
F. Unit / sub-unit wise content of the syllabus and list of case law and research articles
etc.
G. Lesson Plan (As per Format)
H. Structured Tutorial/Seminar/Clinical planning with design of clinical exercise and
problems (wherever applicable – as per the format mentioned hereinafter)
I. Formative Assessment Scheme (As per Format)

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A. (1) COURSE TITLE, COURSE CODE

Course Code 2BL333

Course Title Jurisprudence -I

(2) TEACHING & EXAMINATION SCHEME

Subject Teaching scheme Examination scheme

C L T Total credit CE SEE Total

Jurisprudence-I 4 3 1 4 0.6 0.4 1.0

B. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLO)

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Identify the nature and scope of jurisprudence, sources, theories and purpose of law.
2. Explain and evaluate the major schools of legal philosophy and some of the major jurisprudential debate
that have preoccupied legal philosophers.
3. Assess legal and political theories and questions their internal consistency and coherence.
4. Apply and evaluate abstract philosophical argument to real problems and contexts.

C. COURSE SYLLABUS

NIRMA UNIVERSITY
Institute of Law
B. A., LL. B. (Hons.), B. Com., LL. B. (Hons.) Programmes
Academic Year 2021-22
Semester III

Syllabus: Teaching Hours: 60

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UNIT – 1: JURISPRUDENCE: NATURE AND SCOPE 5 Hours
1.1. What is jurisprudence?
1.2. What is legal theory?
1.3. Interplay of jurisprudence and legal theory
1.4. The purpose of jurisprudence
1.5. The purpose of legal theory
1.6. The concept of law
1.7. Definition of law in terms of the judicial process
1.8. Justice: Meaning and kinds

UNIT-2: SOURCES OF LAW (self-study)

2.1 Legislation
2.2 Precedents: Concept of stare decisis
2.3 Customs
2.4 Juristic writings

UNIT-3: THEORIES /SCHOOLS OF LAW 55 Hours

3.1 Natural Law Theory
3.1.1. Introduction and central claims of Natural Law School
3.1.2. Early Greek Period-Early Roman Period
3.1.3. Medieval- Renaissance- Reformist Phase
3.1.4. Social Contract – Grotius, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau
3.1.5. Revival of Natural Law – Stammler, Fuller, Finnis & Hart
3.1.6. Hart-Fuller Debate
3.1.7. Natural Law and its Application in India

3.2 Historical School

3.2.1. Introduction and features of Historical School
3.2.2. Karl Von Savigny : Volksgiest (Criticism, Merits and Demerits)
3.2.3. Henry Maine : Stages of law, Status to contract (Criticism, Merits and Demerits)
3.2.4. Historical School and its application in India

3.3 Positive Law Theory

3.3.1. Introduction and central claims of Analytical Positivism
3.3.2. Jeremy Bentham: Aspects of law, utilitarianism (Criticism, Merits and Demerits)
3.3.3. John Austin : types of law, Law as command (Criticism, Merits and Demerits) Application of
Austin theory
3.3.4. Hans Kelsen : Pure theory of law, Grundnorm (Criticism, Merits and Demerits)
3.3.5. H.L.A Hart : Primary and Secondary Rules, Rule of Recognition (Criticism)
3.3.6. Hart-Dworkin Debate
3.3.7. Analytical Positivism and Application in India

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3.4 Sociological School
3.4.1. Introduction and features of Sociological School
3.4.2. Ihering : Purpose of law, Interest theory
3.4.3. Ehrlich : Living law
3.4.4. Duguit : Social solidarity
3.4.5. Roscoe Pound: Social engineering, Balancing of interest theory, Jural postulates (Criticism)
3.4.6. Sociological School Application in India

3.5 Realist School

3.5.1. American Realism
3.5.2. Oliver Homes- Badman theory
3.5.3. Jerome Frank – father complex theory, Skepticism
3.5.4. Karl Llewellyn – Law jobs theory
3.5.5. Views of –Hagerstorm - Olivercrona - Alf Ross
3.5.6. Salient Features of Scandinavian Realism

3.6 Critical Studies

3.6.1. The concept of ‘race’
3.6.2. The free market theory
3.6.3. The concept of ‘meta-narratives’

3.7 Feminist Jurisprudence

3.7.1. Fundamental Themes in Feminist Legal Philosophy
3.7.2. Formal Equality and Equal Citizenship
3.7.3. Marriage, Reproductive Rights, and Commodification of the Body
3.7.4. Violence against Women
3.7.5. Equality in Social and Economic Life

3.8 Economic approach to jurisprudence

3.8.1. Introduction and basic features
3.8.2. Karl Marx on law
3.8.3. Application of economic approach to jurisprudence in India

Suggested Readings:
1. M.D.A. Freeman (ed.), Lloyd’s Introduction Jurisprudence, (1994), Sweet & Maxwell
2. Nivedita Menon, Seeing like a Feminist (2012), Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
3. Paton G.W., A Textbook of Jurisprudence (4th ed. 1972) Oxford
4. Riddall J.G., Jurisprudence, (2nd ed.2011) Oxford University Press
5. Subbarao, Venkata G.C. 2008. Jurisprudence and Legal Theory. (9th ed.). Eastern Book
Company, Lucknow.
6. Wacks Raymond.,Understanding Jurisprudence: An Introduction to Legal Theory (3rd ed. 2012)
Oxford University Press

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D. LIST OF BOOKS/ REFERENCE BOOKS/ E-BOOKS

(1) BOOKS
1. Sandel J. Michael. 2008. Justice: What’s the Right Thing to do? (2nd ed.). Farrar, Straus and
Giroux.
2. Hart, H. L. A. (1961). The concept of law. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
3. Fuller, Lon L. (Lon Luvois), 1902-1978. (1964). The morality of law. New Haven: Yale University
Press.
4. Holmes, W. Oliver (2009). The Common Law. Cambridge, Massachusetts; London, England:
Harvard University Press.
5. Bentham, J. (1789). An introduction to the principles of morals and legislation.
6. Kelsen, Hans (2005-reprint). Pure Theory of Law. Lawbook Exchange.
7. Lefebvre Alexandre (2008). The Image of Law Deleuze, Bergson, Spinoza. Standford University
Press

(2).REFERENCE BOOKS
1. Hilaire McCoubrey (1999), Nigel White., Textbook on Jurisprudence (3rd ed.) Blackstone Press.
2. N.E. Simmonds (2008),Central Issues in Jurisprudence: Justice, Law and Rights (3rd ed.).
Sweet & Maxwell.
3. Nomita Aggarwal (1996 re-print). Jurisprudence- Legal Theory, Eastern Book Company,
Lucknow.
4. Dias (2013). Jurisprudence (5th ed.). LexisNexis.
5. Riddall J.G., Jurisprudence, (2nd ed.2011). Oxford University Press.

(3) E-BOOKS
1. Martin P. Golding and William A. Edmundson (2006).The Blackwell Guide to the Philosophy of
Law and Legal Theory. Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
2. Dennis Patterson (2010). A Companion to the Philosophy of Law and Legal Theory. (Second
Edition), Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
3. Scott Veitch, Emilios Christodoulidis and Lindsay Farmer (2012). Jurisprudence: Themes and
Concepts. (Third Edition), Routledge Publications.
4. Raymond Wacks (2012). Understanding Jurisprudence: An Introduction to Legal Theory. (Third
Edition), Oxford University Press.
5. John Austin. (1995). Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought: Austin: The Province
of Jurisprudence Determined. Cambridge University Press.

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E. COURSE RELATED IMPORTANT WEB LINKS
1. Yale Center for Law and Philosophy
http://www.law.yale.edu/yclp
2. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
http://plato.stanford.edu
3. Pennsylvania Institute for Law and Philosophy
https://www.law.upenn.edu/institutes/ilp/
4. Legal Theory Blog
http://lsolum.blogspot.com/
5. Legal Philosophy in Oxford
http://www.law.ox.ac.uk/jurisprudence/
6. NYU Colloquium in Legal, Political and Social Philosophy
http://www.law.nyu.edu/academics/colloquia/index.htm
7. European Academy of Legal Theory
http://www.legaltheory.be
8. Edinburgh Legal Theory Research Group
http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/legaltheory/
9. Australian Legal Philosophy Students Association
http://alpsa-alpsa.blogspot.com/
10. Cambridge Forum for Legal and Political Philosophy
http://www.cflpp.law.cam.ac.uk
11. Jurisprudence and the Philosophy of Law Blog:
http://legaltheoryandjurisprudence.blogspot.com/
12. UCL Journal of Law and Jurisprudence Blog: https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/law-journal/
13. Law & Humanities Blog: http://lawlit.blogspot.com/
14. Leiter Reports: A Philosophy Blog: https://leiterreports.typepad.com/
15. University of Bristol Law School Blog: https://legalresearch.blogs.bris.ac.uk/tag/jurisprudence/
16. Introducing: Experimental Jurisprudence- Leiden Law
Blog:https://leidenlawblog.nl/articles/introducing-experimental-jurisprudence

F. UNIT / SUB-UNIT WISE CONTENT OF THE SYLLABUS AND LIST OF CASE LAW AND
RESEARCH ARTICLES ETC.

UNIT – 1: JURISPRUDENCE: NATURE AND SCOPE

 Tur, R.H.S (1950) What is Jurisprudence. The Philosophical Quarterly. Vol. 28, No. 111.
 Cairns Huntington (2020). Philosophy as Jurisprudence. Legal philosophy from Plato to Hegel,
Johns Hopkins University Press
 Cotterrell Roger (2014). Why Jurisprudence is not legal Philosophy. Jurisprudence Vol. 5. No.1.
 Fuller, Lon L. (1949). The Case of The Speluncean Explorers. Harvard Law Review, Vol. 62(4).

UNIT-2: SOURCES OF LAW

 Solum, Larry, 2013, “Communicative Content and Legal Content” Notre Dame Law Review, 89:
479–520.
 Wróblewski, Jerzy, 1985, “Legal Language and Legal Interpretation,” Law and Philosophy, 4:
239–255.

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UNIT-3: THEORIES /SCHOOLS OF LAW
Natural Law Theory
 Bix H. Brian (2012). Natural law: The Modern Tradition, The Oxford Handbook of
Jurisprudence (ed.) Jules Coleman, Kenneth Einar Hemma, Scott Shapiro
 Cairns Huntington (2020). Legal philosophy from Plato to Hegel, Johns Hopkins University
Press
9. Scott Veitch, Emilios Christodoulidis and Lindsay Farmer (2012). Social contract theory,
Jurisprudence: Themes and Concepts. (Third Edition), Routledge Publications.
10. Hart H.L.A (1958). Positivism and the separation of law and morals. Harvard Law Review. 71
 Fuller, L., 1958, “Positivism and Fidelity to Law: A Reply to Hart”, Harvard Law Review, 71(4):
630–72. doi:10.2307/1338226
 Finnis John (1980). Natural Law and Natural Rights, Clarendon Law Series, Oxford University
Publication.
 Kar, Robin Bradley (2006). The Deep Structure of Law and Morality, Texas Law Review, 84:
877–942.
 Honore Tony (2002). The necessary connection between law and morality, Oxford Journal of
legal studies. Vol 22. No.3
 Isaac Husik (1924). The legal philosophy of Rudolph Stammler, Columbia Law Review, Vol 24.
No.4

Historical School
 Rodes E. Robert (2004), On the Historical School of Jurisprudence, 49 Am. J. Juris. 165.
 Savigny, Frederick Charles (1831). Of the Vocation of Our Age for Legislation and
Jurisprudence. Translated by Abraham Hayward (2 ed.). London: Littlewood. Introduction
 Walton, F. P. “The Historical School of Jurisprudence and Transplantations of Law.” Journal of
Comparative Legislation and International Law, vol. 9, no. 4, 1927, pp. 183–192.

Positive Law Theory

 Austin, John, 1832, The Province of Jurisprudence Determined, W. Rumble (ed.), Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 1995. excerpts
 Bentham Jeremy, An introduction to principles of morals and legislation, 1789. Excerpts
 Hart HLA (1961). The concept of law. Oxford: Clarendon Press 
 Bix H. Brian (2005). Legal Positivism, in Blackwell guide to philosophy of law and legal theory
(ed.) Martin P Golding and William A Edmundson.
 Finnis, John, 2000a, “On the Incoherence of Legal Positivism,” Notre Dame Law Review, 75:
1597–1611.
 Kelsen, Hans, 1941, “The Pure Theory of Law and Analytical Jurisprudence,” Harvard Law
Review, 55: 44–70.
 Raz Joesph (1979). Kelson’s theory of the basic norm in The authority of law: Essays on law and
morality. Clarendon Press.
 Bayles, Michael,, 1991 “Hart vs Dworkin”, Law and Philosophy, volume 10, No.4, pp-349-381

Sociological School
 Albertsworth, E. F. “Program of Sociological Jurisprudence.” American Bar Association Journal,
vol. 8, no. 7, 1922, pp. 393–397.
 Roscoe Pound, “The Scope and Purpose of Sociological Jurisprudence. I. Schools of Jurists and
Methods of Jurisprudence”. Harvard Law Review, Vol. 24, No. 8 (Jun., 1911), pp. 591-619.

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 Realist School
 Strasser Mark (2006). Holmes on Law and Morality. Alberta Law review, 44:2, 377-402.
 White G. Edward (1972). From Sociological Jurisprudence to Realism: Jurisprudence and Social
change in Early Twentieth-Century America. Virginia Law Review. Vol. 58 No 6. 
 Holmes Wendall Oliver (1897). The path of the law. 10 Harvard Law Review 457 
 Dagan Hanoch, The realist conception of Law, The University of Toronto Law Journal, Vol.57
No.3 pp 607-660
 Gregory S. Alexander. Comparing the Two Legal Realisms-American and Scandinavian, The American
Journal of Comparative Law, Vol. 50, No. 1, pp 131-174

Critical Legal Studies
 Tushnet V Mark (2005). Critical legal theory In Blackwell guide to the philosophy of law and
legal theory. 80-90. Blackwell publishing ltd. 
 Kelmen Mark (1990). A guide to critical legal studies. Harvard University Press. Introduction
 White G. Edward (1986). From Realism to Critical legal studies: A truncated intellectual
history. SMU Law review Vol. 40 Issue 2. 
 Hunt Alan (1986). The theory of critical legal studies. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies Vol.6
No.1.
 Crenshaw Kimberle (1989) Demarginaliing the intersection of race and sex: A black feminist
critique of anti-discrimination, feminist theory and antiracist politics. University of Chicago
Legal Forum Vol. 1989. Issue 1 Article 8. 

Feminist Jurisprudence
 Scales C. Ann (1986). The emergence of Feminist Jurisprudence: An Essay, 95 Yale Law
Journal 1373.
 Smith Patricia (2005) Four themes in feminist legal theory: Difference, Dominance, Domesticity,
and Denial in Blackwell guide to the philosophy of law and legal theory. Blackwell Publishing
ltd. 
 Baxi Pratiksha. (2014). Medicalisation of consent and falsilty in Public Secrets of Law: Rape Trials
in India. Oxford University Press.

Economic Approach to Jurisprudence

 Posner Richard (1998). Values and Consequences: An Introduction to economic analyses of law.
Law & Economics working papers 53.
 Pashukanis Evegeny (2002). The General Theory of Law and Marxism. Routledge.

*List of other research articles will be communicated via email and course website as and when
required

G. LESSON PLAN

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Distribution of the Lesson/Teaching Planning:
Mr. Kushal Nandwani (KN)

Sessio Topic Pedagogy Mapped Pre-class reading

n No. CLO Material

1. Presentation of the module Presentation - Introduction of the

module

2. Introduction to Jurisprudence Class Discussion 1,2 ERM-1,2,3

3. Introduction to jurisprudence- Class Discussion 1,2 ERM-4

The Spelucean explorers case

4 Introduction and central claims of Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-7

Natural Law

5. Legal philosophy in Greek- Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-8

Roman Period & medieval
scholastics

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6. Legal philosophy in Greek- Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM- 8
Roman Period & medieval
scholastics

7. Social contract theories: Hobbes Class Discussion 1,2,3,4 ERM- 9

Locke Rousseau

8. Debates of law & morality & Class Discussion 1,2,3,4 ERM-12,13,14,15

Revival of Natural Law

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9 Debates of law & morality & Class Discussion 1,2 ERM-12, 13, 14, 15
. Revival of Natural Law

10. Hart- Fuller debate Class Discussion 1,2 ERM-10,11

11. Hart- fuller debate Class Discussion 1,2,3,4 ERM-10,11

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12. Blackwell, Austin & Bentham: Class Discussion 1,2,3,4 ERM- 22, 23
The emergence of natural positive
divide/ Introduction and central
claims of Analytical Positivism

13. Blackwell, Austin & Bentham: Class Discussion 1,2,3,4 ERM-22, 23

The emergence of natural positive
divide/ Introduction and central
claims of Analytical Positivism

14. John Austin : types of law, Law Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-19
as command

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15. Jeremy Bentham: utilitarianism & Class Discussion 1,2,3,4 ERM-20
principles of morals and legislation

16. Hans Kelsen : Pure theory of law, Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-24,25
Grundnorm

17. Hans Kelsen : Pure theory of law, Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-24,25
Grundnorm

18. H.L.A Hart : Primary and Secondary Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-21
Rules, Rule of Recognition

19. H.L.A Hart : Primary and Secondary Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-21
Rules, Rule of Recognition

20. Hart- Dworkin Debate Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-26

21. Hart- Dworkin Debate Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-26

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22. Introduction to legal realism Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-30,32

23. Legal formalism and legal realism Class Discussion 1,2,3,4 ERM-30,32

24. American Realism: Oliver Homes- Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-29,31

Badman theory & law and morality

25. American Realism/ Oliver Homes- Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-29, 31

Badman theory & law and morality

26. American Realism/ Jerome Frank – Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-32

father complex theory, Skepticism

27. Realist School: Karl Llewellyn – Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-32

Law jobs theory

28. Salient Features of Scandinavian Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-33

Realism

29. Critical legal Studies and Realism: Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-34,36
Introduction

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30. Central claims of Critical legal Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-35
Studies

31. Central claims of Critical legal Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-35

Studies

32. Critical legal Studies and Marxism Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-37,43

33. Critical race theory & Caste in Indian Class Discussion + 1,2,3 ERM-38
Context Justice
Chandrachud’s
discussion of
intersectionality in
Patan Jamal vali vs
State of Andhra
Pradesh
34. Critical race theory & Caste in Indian Short film + 1,2,3 Discreet charm of the
Context discussion Savarnas

35. Guest lecture on Feminist Guest Lecture 1,2,3 -

Jurisprudence

36. Economic approach to Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-42

jurisprudence :
Introduction and basic features

37. Law and economics: Richard Posner Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-42

38. Introduction to Sociological Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-27,28

Jurisprudence

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39. Sociological Jurisprudence in Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-27,28
Indian Context: The Jurisprudence
of Justice Krishna Iyer

40. Sociological jurisprudence and Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-30

realism

41. Social Engineering and Social Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-27,28

solidarity

42. Interest Theory and living Class Discussion 1,2,3,4 ERM-27,28

43. Introduction: Historical Class Discussion 1,2,3,4 ERM-16

jurisprudence

44. Savigny Class Discussion 1,2,3 ERM-17,18

45. Savigny and Maine Class Discussion 1,2,3,4 ERM- 17,18

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H. STRUCTURED TUTORIAL/ SEMINAR/CLINICAL PLANNING FORMAT

Session Week Clinical Reading Method of

No. exercise/ material/ conducting the
Tutorial/ Work exercise
practical work book/
Exercise
book
1. Week 1 Tutorial Introduction to Discussion
CE-III
2. Week 2 Tutorial Book Discussion
Review
discussio
n
3. Week 3 Tutorial Book Review Discussion
discussion
4. Week 4 Tutorial Book Review Discussion
discussion
5. Week 5 Tutorial Book Review Discussion
discussion

6. Week 6 Tutorial Book Review Discussion

discussion
7. Week 7 Tutorial Book Review Discussion
Discussion

8. Week 8 Tutorial Book Review Discussion

discussion
9. Week 9 Tutorial Project Discussion
discussion
10. Week 10 Tutorial Project Discussion
discussion
11. Week 11 Tutorial Project Discussion
discussion

12. Week 12 Tutorial Project Discussion

discussion
13. Week 13 Tutorial Project Discussion
discussion

14. Week 14 Tutorial Project Discussion

Discussion

15. Week 15 Tutorial Project Discussion

Discussion

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I. FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT SCHEME (FA) – JURISPRUDENCE –I

Sr. Format Description Assessment Criteria Marks Date Date of Mapped

No. ive assigned of Declarat CLO
assess exam ion of
ment result
(Contin
uous
Evalua
tion)
01 CE- I MCQ (Best 2 of 3) Application and theory 20 Last Immediat 1,2,3,4
10 marks each based multiple choice Week of ely
questions August,
Septemb
er and
Novemb
er

02 CE-II Written test There shall be 3 (three) 40 27-10- Within 1,2,3,4

questions in total. The 2021 15 days
question will assess both from date
the ability to answer of
problem based question examinat
and theoretical questions
ion
relating to topics covered
in the class.
03 CE-III Project on Gender The write up should be 40 First week November 1,4
SDG 5 Inclusivity non-plagiarized. of
Students are expected to semester
This will be an individual write an analytical piece
Gender project and not merely describe
Equalit the events.
y Students will be required
to conduct an inclusivity
Mark Distribution is as
analysis in the high courts
of their respective states follows:
and one other state. They
will conduct a a. 10 marks for
comparative analysis on identifying the
various criteria including- problems and
number of female senior resources used
advocates, number of b. 10 marks for
female judges, enabling
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 infrastructures for female analysis and final
lawyers & judges among presentation
other things.

The students can use any

of the following modes
for presenting their
project-
-Small Documentary
-Cartoon Strips
-Posters
-Class Presentation
-Article Writing
-Preparing a report

OR

SDG 16 Book Review

This will be an The write up should be First week November

individual project. Each non-plagiarized. of
student will be required Students are expected to semester 1,2
to submit a book review write an analytical piece.
of not more than 2500
words. Students will
have to review either of
the following two
books-

1. The morality of
law- Lon Fuller
2. The concept of
Law- HLA Hart

*Advisory: Reading material is supplementary in nature. Students are advised to refer to prescribed text
books and other academic resources.

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