uwloo

PHIL 327Philosophy of Law

Units
0.50
Faculty
Arts
Subject
Philosophy
Cross-listed
LS 351

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 4 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Basic themes in the philosophy of law. Issues include the nature of law and its relation to morality and politics, legal reasoning, the justification of punishment, and theories of rights, responsibility, and liability.

Prerequisites

  • Students must be in level 2A or higher

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001795813 / 15Th 18:30–19:50

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00142000 / 15Th 18:30–19:50
LEC 08138800 / 10Online or by arrangement
LEC 70116524 / 9999Online or by arrangement
LEC 702150712 / 9999Online or by arrangement

Reviewed on UW Flow

79% liked it43% easy80% useful

From 14 ratings and 6 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • The course content itself isn't too difficult but avoid taking the course with Stephanie Gregoire. Even the smartest students in the course were failing and she makes life so hard for all her students. We are all just trying to get our credit and move on :/

    Mar 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Took it with Brian Orend in S25. Orend is an amazing lecturer, and tailors the course content to be applicable to what is currently going on today, politically. At times, it did feel like it was mostly covering legal knowledge, and less critical analysis of the law that I would expect from a philosophy class. Overall, really enjoyable content and very applicable to almost everything else in your life.

    Jul 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The ratings of this course heavily depend on the instructor. Mine made it difficult to appreciate the material.

    May 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • If you can regurgitate everything from class line by line onto your tests, then you'll do just fine. If you're looking for any level of actual critical thinking, then avoid at all costs.

    Apr 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Took it was Nick Ray -- he's a great prof (suuuuper understanding about deadlines). For my LS peers, please know that this is a philosophy class first. This means that the bulk of it is critical thinking and argumentation, less so focused on legal knowledge. That said, it was a great course. I'd take it again.

    Sep 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

11 posts and comments in 10 threads mention PHIL 327, August 2013 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2019

Spring 2019

PHIL327 0 points, 2 comments

u/hylisha: “Has anyone taken this course with Stephanie Gregoire? I need it to finish my breadth requirements and the reviews on her for rate my professor are a bit iffy, and I really wanna make sure I know what im getting myself into since my course load is pretty heavy as it is, and I …”

u/bkrndnx: “I took phil 327 with her in 3A. The readings were fairly long and its some tough material. However, her tests were straight forward and she was always transparent with what was going to be in it. If youre consistent with your readings and come to class, you will do fine. …”

View on RedditRemove this

Winter 2019

Spring 2018

Fall 2017

Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments

“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”

u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”

u/Jackhofmann: “… PHIL 240 PHIL 247W PHIL 251 PHIL 256 PHIL 258 PHIL 265 PHIL 283 PHIL 284 PHIL 319J PHIL 320 PHIL 327 PHIL 329 PHIL 340 PHIL 356 PHIL 371 PHIL 420 PHIL 459 PHIL 482 PHIL 498 PHIL 670 PHIL 673 PHIL 675 PHIL 680A PHIL 696 PHIL 698 PHIL 699 PHS 601 PHS 602 PHS 604 PHS 605 PHS 607 …”

View on RedditRemove this

Winter 2015

Winter 2014

Legal Studies and Criminology Program 2 points, 3 comments

“Hey all, Was wondering if anyone had some information about this program. I've obviously read online but was looking for reviews or things that people have heard about this program. …”

u/DotAClone: “I'm currently in the ARBUS LS program. My advice is, if you are interested in getting into law school (as are most of these students) just go to York and take a psychology or sociology program. …”

u/skylar44: “… (LS 401, 402, 403, PHIL 327, etc) To OP: Build a rapport with your professors early on. I took Honours LS (no criminology) with tons of SOC and PSCI classes and I loved it. I'm also heading to law school in the fall. …”

View on RedditRemove this

Spring 2013

So guys, What are you taking next term? 4 points, 24 comments

“There is a diverse crowd of students on here! I'm sure we all have advice to give out and questions about certain courses.”

u/eristicham: “PHIL 240 - Introduction to Formal Logic PHIL 327 - Philosophy of Law PHIL 420 - Issues in Global Health PSCI 389 - Global Governance PSCI 402 - Politics of International Trade I may as well start paying rent at the library this term.”

View on RedditRemove this

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar