Face-to-face , second term, 30 hours of theory.

Second term
Friday from 10:30 to 12:30

Dutch

Legal scholars are able to assess and understand the functioning and the effects of rules in social reality. This course should help to attain that goal. Because of this, we first and foremost aim to depict the sociological approach.
More in particular we attempt to give an overview of the central concepts and theories in sociology. Students afterwards are able to reproduce these concepts and theories and to associate them with social reality.
HUB-competence scheme
1.2.1. able to keep knowledge up to date, to update or expand it where necessary: Competence level 1
1.3.2. is aware of intercultural differences in the exercise of professional activities: Competence level 1
1.4.2. dares to form a judgement and able to give ethical aspects a role therein: Competence level 1
1.4.3. dares call prejudices into question: Competence level 1
1.6.1. Inventories and analyses alternative standpoints with regard to ethical, normative or social questions and adopts a reasoned position on them: Competence level 1
1.6.2. has an open vision of the world and society and always strives for a substantive dialogue that shows respect for the various conceptions: Competence level 1
2.1.1. open to information and standpoints and attentive to what is not yet known: Competence level 1
2.2.1. has analytical capacity, logical thinking and reasoning ability and a critical investigative attitude: Competence level 1
2.3.1. able to synthesise: Competence level 1
3.2.1. able to situate the law in its social, historical, political and geographical context, thanks to insight into the link between law and other disciplines (history, economics, philosophy, sociology): Competence level 2
3.2.2. interested in new legal concepts and dares to question positive law in light of the context: Competence level 1
Key objectives
1. Students understand and recognize the sociological approach Competence level 1
2. Students are able to prepoduce the conceptual frame and central theories from sociology Competence level 1
3. Students can relate sociological concepts and theories to contmeproary social problems Competence level 2
4. Student are able to recognize a sociological approach of legal problems and distinguish this approach from a stricly legal analysis. Competence level 1

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Rather than a historical approach, discussing the most important contributions from the history of sociology, we chose to introduce sociology by themes. Some of the relevant contributions of classical sociology, however, is specifically dealt with in the second part. Classes are organised in twelve chapters:

Ch. I. Sociology as a science

PART I. ELEMENTARY UNITS OF SOCIOLOGY
Ch. II. Culture, social constructions and social norms
Ch. III. Social relations and networks
Ch. IV. Power, authority and resources
Ch. V. Social change and modernisation

PART II. THE CLASSICAL INHERITANCE IN SOCIOLOGY
Ch. VI. Marx: the necessary end of capitalism
Ch. VII. Weber: the many faces of religion
Ch. VIII. Tocqueville: democracy, equality and egoism

PART III. SOCIOLOGY IN THE 21st CENTURY
Ch. IX. Social inequality
Ch. X. Organisations en organising
Ch. XI. Deviance and informal activities
Ch. XII. The specialism of sociology of law

Classes consist of a summarizing of the subject matter and of illustrations by the lecturer. Students are encouraged to discuss the subject matter during class.

Mode of evaluation : Written
Category : final examination during examination period
Type of evaluation : Closed book

Exam period May/Jun

The exam is written (2h30) and consists of 3 parts:
1. a concise explanation based on a number of specific questions
2. the application of concepts and theories to a given contemporary problem, e.g. with the help of a newspaper article
3. multiple choice questions

Questions ask for knowledge and the ability to combine and apply knowledge. The reulsts of the multiple choice questions are corrected for guessing, but in a way neutral to risk aversion. By the end of the classes an example of an exam will be given and discussed.

A concise, clear, relevant and specific answer is required. When the answer does not meet these criteria, it will receive a negative evaluation.

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