MV205K Logic for Lawyers

Faculty of Law
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. JUDr. Tomáš Sobek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Bc. Linda Tvrdíková, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. JUDr. Tomáš Sobek, Ph.D.
Department of Legal Theory – Faculty of Law
Contact Person: Tereza Buchalová
Supplier department: Department of Legal Theory – Faculty of Law
Prerequisites
! MV205Zk Logic for Lawyers
Previous knowledge of the subject is not assumed
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/50, only registered: 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
  • Law (programme PrF, PR_)
  • Law (programme PrF, M-PPV)
Course objectives
Subject goal: The subject concentrates on specific problems of legal reasoning. Its goal is to introduce terminology of logic and the systhem of logical patterns, which can be applied in legal work. It contains purposefully chosen general information of logic which is targeted and systematized to be casily applied by the future lawyers. The main purpose of the Logic for Lawyers Course can be seen in acquiring basic theoretical knowledge of classic and non-classic logics (above all valid deductive inference, „specific arguments" of the „juristic logic", definition in law and deontic logic). Another topic which is considered quite important refers to the basic theoretical knowledge of legal reasoning (in terms of both formal and non-formal logic). In general: Logic for Lawyers Course aims at basic knowledge of classic logic and non-classic logic and also at logical basics of legal reasoning. Students are able to determine the formal validity of judgments in legal texts. Students are able to assess the proper use of basic logical connectives. Students control the application of legal definitions. Students practice working with the modalities of legal deontic logic. Students are able to correct errors in logical reasoning in legal practice.
Syllabus
  • Lectures: History of logic in brief, Modern logic and law, Propositional calculus, Predicate calculus, Nature and tasks of legal logic, General and legal methodology and its logical basis (definitions, theory of argumentation). Logic of juristic argumentation at the time of European integration. The curriculum of seminars in file MV205K: The curriculum of lectures: 1. The nature of Logic, Tasks of Logic, Classical Laws of Logic, Branches of Logic, Legal Logic
  • 2. History of Logic I.
  • 3. History of Logic II. Tradition and current questions of logic in Czech jurisprudence.
  • 4. General knowledge of formal Logic
  • 5. Propositional calculus and legal reasoning
  • 6. Predicate calculus and legal reasoning
  • 7. Logic of Classes
  • 8. Logic of Relations
  • 9. Non-clasical logic, prescriptive logic
  • 10. General and legal methodology and its logical bases (definition)
  • 11. Theory of argumentation, Argumentation in Law I.
  • 12. Theory of Argumentation, Argumentation in Law II. Seminars: History of logic in brief, Modern logic and law, Propositional calculus, Predikate calculus, Nature and tasks of legal logic, General and legal methodology and its logical basis (definitions, theory of argumentation). Programme of the seminars: 1. Introduction to the subject, Logic and Law, basic knowledge of formal logic 2. Basic knowledge of formal logic - examples for practicing the theoretical knowledge 3. Propositional calculus - examples for practicing the theoretical knowledge 4. Predicate calculus - examples for practicing the theoretical knowledge 5. Prescriptive logic. Definition in law - examples for practicing the theoretical knowledge 6. Persuasion and argumentation in law in examples
Literature
  • WEINBERGER, Ota. Základy právní logiky. Vyd. 1. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 1993, 263 s. ISBN 802100827X. info
  • SOUSEDÍK, Prokop. Logika pro studenty humanitních oborů. Vyd. 2., rozš. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2001, 222 s. ISBN 8070215097. info
  • ŠTĚPÁN, Jan. Logika a právo. 1. vyd. Praha: C.H. Beck, 2001, vi, 122. ISBN 8071794848. info
Teaching methods
Lecture: verbal presentation of knowledge of the Logic for Lawyers Course Seminar: practical exercising of the theoretical knowledge(participation obligatory, one abstract obligatory) During the seminar exercises: Students practice determine the fundamental characteristics of connectives of classical logic (analysis of legislation and judicial decisions). Students learn practical problems of legal language, legal definition and deontic logic (analysis of legislation and judicial decisions). Students practical evaluate the logical correctness of the legal reasoning (analysis of court decisions).
Assessment methods
During the semester is mandatory attendance at seminars with one paper presentation. After these conditions is colloquium. Form of colloquium is mixed: oral and written. Written part of the colloquium is evaluated more than 8 points (student must obtain at least 4 points). Oral part of the colloquium is evaluated by a maximum of 2 points (student must obtain at least one point).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/law/spring2025/MV205K