Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professor Lewinsohn-Zamir

J.D. Course 043 | 2 credit hours

The right to private property is a fundamental right, necessary for the safeguarding of personal freedom and autonomy, and for human flourishing. In the course, we will discuss several issues involving property rights – such as the good faith purchase doctrine, the numerus clausus principle, takings compensation, dead hand control, property exempted in bankruptcy proceedings, landlord and tenant law, and rent-control – from analytical, theoretical and comparative perspectives. The theoretical analysis will include, among other things, subjective and objective theories of welfare (contrasting mental-state and preference-satisfaction theories with objective ones), economic analysis of law, the personhood theory, game theory, behavioral law and economics, and theories of distributive justice.

The course will introduce the students to the relevant theories in philosophy, economics, and psychology. No prior knowledge is necessary. All comparative reading materials will be in English.

Prerequisite: Property.

This course will meet the first seven weeks of the Spring 2010 semester on the following days: Wednesday, 1/20, Monday, 1/25, Wednesday, 1/27, Monday, 2/1, Wednesday, 2/3, Friday, 2/5, Monday, 2/8, Wednesday, 2/10, Thursday, 2/18 (Monday classes meet), Monday, 2/22, Wednesday, 2/24, Monday, 3/1, and Wednesday, 3/3.