Rule of Law Program
(recent activity)

Fundamentals of Philosophy of Law
University of Ruzomberok, Slovakia
May 2-6, 2005
Dr. Russell Hittinger

This course in philosophy of law was offered in response to the invitation of professors from the University of Ruzomberok, who had attended conferences at Neuwaldegg in 2004. Dr. Russell Hittinger was nominated visiting professor, and the course he designed was required for second year law students. In addition, many third year and graduate students attended as well, about 70-80 students in all. During the five day conference Professor Hittinger gave 7 lectures and 2 additional seminars for a wider audience.

Dr. Hittinger dealt with the principles of law and justice as well as the relationship of law and the common good, the foundation of human rights, and the concept of juridical persons (the topic of his latest book). One of his seminars compared the European constitution to the United States constitution, highlighting contemporary trends in jurisprudence.

Dr. Russell Hittinger, who earned his Ph.D. at St. Louis University, teaches philosophy at the University of Tulsa, where he is chair of the department. He has also taught at Catholic University of America, Princeton University, Fordham University, and New York University. Professor Hittinger received the Silver Gavel Award of the American Bar Association for Privacy and Liberal Legal Culture in 1991. His books and articles have been published by Oxford University Press, the University of Notre Dame Press, the Review of Politics, as well as several law journals.