Legal Philosophy at McMaster

MA
Program

PhD
Program

Welcome to Legal Philosophy at McMaster University!

Welcome to the public web site of legal philosophy at McMaster University! McMaster is widely recognized as one of Canada's leading centres for the philosophical study of law. McMaster is an exciting place in which to pursue graduate studies in the philosophy of law. Here you can find:

An unusually large number of faculty with active research projects in the philosophy of law. Historically, our principal strengths have been in general jurisprudence and the philosophy of constitutional law. Thanks to the recent expansion of our faculty, we have deepened these strengths and broadened our ability to support advanced study in most areas within the philosophy of law.

Our newest members are:

Stefan Sciaraffa (McMaster University)
Michael Giudice (York University and Osgoode School of Law; McMaster Adjunct Faculty)
Leslie Green (Oxford University; McMaster Adjunct Faculty)
Nancy Doubleday (McMaster University).

These additions build on our existing complement of legal philosophers:

Violetta Igneski (McMaster University)
Elisabeth Gedge (McMaster University)
Wil Waluchow (McMaster University; Osgoode Adjunct Faculty)
A department internationally ranked alongside Columbia, USC, Rutgers & Chicago in the philosophy of law MORE INFO (See also Matthew Kramer & Brian Leiter)
A vibrant, supportive community of graduate students
A long history of success in placing graduate students in academic appointments:

Keith Culver (Okanagan Sustainability Institute, UBC)
Maricarmen Jenkins (U of Saskatchewan)
Brian Burge-Hendrix (Quest University)
Christopher Maddocks (Niagara College)
Michael Giudice (York/Osgoode; McMaster)
Colin Farrelley (Queen’s University)
Margaret Martin(University of Western Ontario)
Fabio Shecaira (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro)
An exciting roster of distinguished visiting speakers. 2011-12 visitors included: Jules Coleman (Yale); Mark Murphy (Georgetown); Barbara Levenbook (North Carlolina State); Tom Chrisiano (Arizona); Kevin Toh (San Francisco State University); and Kit Wellman (Washington University in St. Louis)
Graduate courses in which some of our distinguished visitors participate directly (all but Professors Coleman and Murphy participated in courses offered this past year)
Opportunities to study abroad for periods of time (recently students have, e.g., spent terms in Oxford and Cambridge)
Group excursions to philosophy of law conferences and events (University of Cambridge, New York University Law School, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, etc)
Generous financial support for graduate study (teaching assistantships, scholarships, and research assistantships with Faculty members)
Formal and informal affiliations with a number of laws schools at neighbouring institutions: The University of Western Ontario, the University of Toronto, and most notably Osgoode Hall Law School with whom, along with the Philosophy Department at York University, we have established the Ontario Legal Philosophy Partnership. McMaster students have benefitted from courses offered at these other schools, and from the many events in legal theory hosted by them to which our students are always invited and in which our Faculty routinely participate. Faculty from these other schools also participate actively in events held at McMaster, and our Adjunt Members, Professors Green and Giudice are available to serve on MA and PhD supervisory committees.
MORE INFO
An affordable and livable city with ready access to the intellectual, cultural, and recreational opportunities that can be found in the Greater Toronto Area.

So, once again, welcome to legal philosophy at McMaster! Please explore our web site and discover all that we have to offer you. And if we can be of further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Wil Waluchow
Professor of Philosophy
Senator William McMaster Chair in Constitutional Studies