Break up into small groups. Delegate one or more members of your group to (1) prepare a summary of your group's discussion and (2) make a list of your group's members

Discuss your answers to the following questions.

1. What is the end of the law in "Unaccompanied Sonata?" To what extent is that end achieved in the world of that story? Why?

2. What seems to be the end of the law applied by the "critics" in "Prior Restraint?" To what extent is that end achieved in the world of that story? Why?

3. What do the members of your group think the end of the law is in our legal system? To what extent is this end achieved? Why?

4. What do your group's answers to the previous questions suggest about the adequacy of the theories of the end of the law that we've studied so far?

5.  Given your answer to number 3, please give one example of one of our laws, and explain why it's a good or bad law with respect to achieving that end.

Michael Kagan
For Philosophy 302, Issues in Ethics
Le Moyne College
Updated September 28, 2008, November 4, 2010