THE HISTORY OF PUNISHMENT

HISTORY/LEGALST 459

From the perspectives of history and political theory, examines the multiple meanings of the idea of the rule of idea, and its uses in American history. Explore prominent critiques of the rule of law ideal.

HISTORY/LEGALST 235

Examines the development of prisons from the ancient Mediterranean world to the present in the US and Europe. Pays particular attention to the way in which imprisonment has been used against marginalized populations. Examines the development of carceral tactics across a number of registers, including the prison as an ancient political tactic, the economic logic of early modern debtors' prisons, the relationship of prisons and workhouses to forms of capitalism, prisons and colonial expansion, the relationship between mass incarceration and democratic forms of government, as well as the connections between the abolition of slavery and modern carceral practices. Also looks at the legal and constitutional limitations that have been put on imprisonment by the American legal system. Relies on interdisciplinary approaches to the study of prisons, including History, law, literature, and political theory.

HISTORY/LEGALST 476

Introduction to the central historical developments of law and legal institutions in the European middle ages (400-1500).

LAW 916

Using a variety of interdisciplinary readings, ranging from fiction to philosophy to psychology, examine the types of punishment used by the America criminal justice system, and the varied justifications offered for them.

LEGALST 213

Introduction to the dynamic relationship between law and the humanities, examining how legal systems both shape and are shaped by cultural, historical, and philosophical contexts. Through the study of literature, philosophy, history, pop culture, religious studies, and the arts, critically engage with the fundamental question of what law is and reframe legal concepts such as justice, rights, authority, and morality. Engage in the discussion of representative works of the discipline, different methodologies, and the ideas of key thinkers to highlight the humanistic dimensions of law. By analyzing court cases, historical sources, fiction, films, and philosophical writings, develop a deeper understanding of how law functions, how it tells stories, and how law is not only as a set of rules but a cultural and moral artifact.