Total run time:
2h 29m
Why take a course on Common Law, when it’s not a 1L class? Standard law school courses treat Property, Contract, Tort, and Restitution (the major branches of Common Law) as distinct subjects, each with its own rules. Professor Richard Epstein of NYU School of Law argues that this conventional approach misses the mark. Going back to first principles, one finds a deep intellectual unity among these subjects.
Total run time:
2h 29m
Course:
Common Law
Total videos:
52
Difficulty:
First Year
Can simple rules solve social coordination problems better than regulations? Professor Richard Epstein of NYU School of Law provides an alternative to the conventional view that property rights are arbitrarily created by the state, and therefore can be changed at will by the state. A few simple rules, he argues, are universal principles of social organization, consistent across time and culture, which form the basis of social gains.
Are property rights arbitrary creations of the state, able to be changed at any time? Or is there some deeper principle at work? Professor Richard Epstein of NYU School of Law defines the rules of property, then goes through a variety of cases and examples integral to Anglo-American property law. What kind of rule provides stable property possession within a complex system of property ownership and leasing? Watch to learn more.
This module covers some basic concepts in Contract Law. What are the necessary parts of a contract? When might a contract be unenforceable? What role do contracts play in a common law system? How do contracts help individuals and society develop products and services that would otherwise be too difficult?
How does the law of tort stabilize the common law system? Professor Richard Epstein of NYU School of Law explores how torts set and enforce boundaries between parties. The law of public nuisance deals with private access to public areas, and the law of trespass with disputes between private parties. The system is designed to prevent any individual to alter boundaries in Property or Contracts unfairly to their own advantage. Watch to learn more.
What kinds of agreements are covered by the law of contracts? Professor Richard Epstein of NYU School of Law gives a basic definition, then goes through a variety of transactions, from simple to complex, where contracts with increasing degrees of formality are used. What role do contracts play in the greater social order? What net benefits do they have? Watch to learn more.
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