Legal Philosophy between State and Transnationalism

An international debate series

The social and political organization of our world is changing at a fast pace. Societies are becoming ever more diverse and popular allegiances are multiplying. States are witnessing the erosion of their sovereignty, while having to contend with increasingly complex transnational crime and threats to national and international security. Modern normative commitments to human rights and the rule of law that have formed since the Enlightenment and through the political revolutions of the 19th and 20th centuries are now being challenged from countless new directions. Such deep transformations generate a host of novel and significant philosophical questions for scholars to answer.

The annual seminar series 'Legal Philosophy Between State and Transnationalism' is designed to address emerging issues at the intersection of transnationalism, law, and philosophy in a sustained and systematic manner. The featured speakers will expose and explore ways in which our existing ideas about what law is, and about what law should be, may need modification, or possible rejection, as we reassess the place and role of legality in today's world.

In its inaugural year (2008-2009), the series offered eight high-end debates that brought together leading international theorists and philosophers engaged in cutting-edge research on the correlation between the state, law, and other modes of societal ordering. The 2009-2010 edition builds on the success of the first and includes distinguished speakers such as Larry May, Samantha Besson, Jacob T. Levy, Dennis Patterson, Andrew March, Cecile Fabre, and Jeff McMahan (click here for the 2009-2010 program).

The series is jointly organized by Osgoode Hall Law School and the Department of Philosophy, and is associated with the Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime and Security. It reflects York University's broad and growing international strength in legal philosophy, socio-legal theory, and transnational studies. It will be of interest to anyone – from lawyers to sociologists, philosophers to political scientists – working in these areas.

In 2009-2010, all seminars will be held on Fridays (except on one occasion) between 2.30-4.30pm, in Room B15 of the HNES Building at York University (#31 on this map of York's Keele Campus).

Please consult the links in the left column for details about dates, room changes, topics, pre-circulated papers, and speakers. For any further inquiries about the series, contact the co-convenors, Prof. François Tanguay-Renaud (ftanguay-renaud@osgoode.yorku.ca) and Prof. Michael Giudice (giudice@yorku.ca).

To receive updates about the series and other legal philosophy events at York, you may subscribe to our listserv by sending a blank email to Listserv@osgoode.yorku.ca with "Sub York-Legalphilosophy" or "Subscribe York-Legalphilosophy" in the subject line.

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The series is kindly sponsored by:

The series is also proud to be associated with Transnational Legal Theory.

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