Legal Theory

How would you describe the difference between a law, a moral rule, and a social norm? Why do some theorists insist that law must be obeyed because it is law, while others tie obedience to justice or consent? In what ways can law be seen as both a tool of order and a tool of control or domination? How do informal practices and unwritten customs shape what law looks like in everyday life? Can you think of a situation where following the law seemed clearly right—or clearly wrong—given your own values?

Should a law that many people regard as deeply immoral still be enforced until it is changed? How do legal systems justify their claim to legitimate authority over people who disagree with specific laws or leaders? What role do conscience, civil disobedience, and protest play when legal rules clash with moral convictions? How have historical injustices—such as slavery or discrimination—been supported or challenged by legal institutions? What examples show how changing moral beliefs can eventually reshape the law?

What are the main approaches judges use to interpret legal texts, such as literal readings, purpose-based readings, or historical analysis? How much freedom should judges have to adapt old laws to new situations that lawmakers did not anticipate? What risks arise when interpretation becomes so flexible that laws lose predictability and stability? Conversely, what dangers appear if interpretation is so rigid that it cannot respond to social change or new knowledge? Have you seen a legal or policy debate where people disagreed not about the text itself, but about how to interpret it?

How can laws both combat and reinforce economic, racial, gender, or other forms of inequality? What do critical legal scholars mean when they say that law often reflects the interests of dominant groups? How do policing, sentencing, and civil regulations sometimes fall more heavily on certain communities than others? What examples show law being used creatively by marginalized groups to claim rights and reshape institutions? How can an awareness of power dynamics change the way we think about neutrality and fairness in legal rules?

How are emerging technologies—like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and big data—challenging basic legal concepts? What might it mean for law to become more globalized as problems and communication cross national borders more easily? How can legal systems stay flexible enough to handle rapid change without losing reliability and trust? What new kinds of rights or responsibilities might be needed in a world facing climate change and ecological limits? If you imagine the legal system 50 years from now, what feels most likely to remain the same and what seems destined to change?