This workshop series brings leading legal and political philosophers from around the world to present their work in progress to the Faculty, providing a forum for both faculty and students to discuss central topics in legal theory. The workshop is committed to a generous and pluralistic view of theory.

Some of our speakers have presented work on general philosophical questions about the law, such as questions about the nature of law and legal authority or the legitimacy of judicial review.  Other speakers have presented on issues of philosophical interest that arise within quite specific areas of the law, such as questions about criminal responsibility, about the proper interpretation of constitutional rights, or about the purpose of tort law.

Past Workshop participants have included: Stephen Darwall, John Goldberg, Deborah Hellman, Thomas Hill, Frances Kamm, Will Kymlicka, Stephen Perry, Jerry Postema, Scott Shapiro, and Wil Waluchow, among others.

The Legal Theory Workshop is not open to the general public. We welcome individuals affiliated with the Faculty of Law and closely related departments, including political science, philosophy, criminology, history and the Centre for Ethics. All other individuals interested in attending must seek prior approval from the organizers of the workshop.

See past workshops

2022-2023 SCHEDULE

DATE & TIME

LOCATION

SPEAKER & TOPIC

September 30
12:30 – 2:00
FH103 (Solarium)James Edwards – (Oxford)

The Internal Morality of Criminal Law

October 21
12:30 – 2:00

 

FH103 (Solarium)

David Plunkett – (Dartmouth)

Conceptual Ethics and The Categories of “Ideal Theory” and “Non-Ideal Theory” in Political Philosophy: A Proposal for Abandonment 

November 18
12:30 – 2:00
FH103 (Solarium)Wendy Salkin – (Stanford)

Speaking for Others from the Bench

 

November 25
12:30 – 2:00

 

FH103 (Solarium)Adil Haque – (Rutgers)
The Inner Logic of International Law
January 20
12:30 – 2:00

 

FH103 (Solarium)Aditi Bagchi – (Fordham)
Private Law and Public Discourse
February 3
12:30 – 2:00

 

FH103 (Solarium)Lea Ypi – (LSE)
“Kant the Racist?”
February 10
12:30 – 2:00

 

FH103 (Solarium)Gopal Sreenivasan – (Duke)
Human rights and democratic legitimacy
April 14 
12:30 – 2:00
FH103 (Solarium)Massimo Renzo – (King's College London)
Manipulation and Practical Agency

To be added to the paper distribution list, please send an email to events.law@utoronto.ca.