AQA A-Level Law 7162
The Nature of Law
The European Union and English Law
Legal Personnel and the Judiciary
Access to Justice and Funding
Parliamentary Law Making
Delegated Legislation
Statutory Interpretation
Judicial Precedent
Law Reform
The Civil Courts and Dispute Resolution
The Criminal Courts and Sentencing
Lay People: Magistrates and Juries
Criminal Law: Rules and Theory
General Elements of Liability
Fatal Offences Against the Person
Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person
Property Offences
Preliminary Offences
Criminal Defences
Tort: Rules and Theory
Negligence
Occupiers' Liability
Nuisance and Rylands v Fletcher
Vicarious Liability
Tort: Defences and Remedies
Contract: Rules and TheoryContract
Formation of a ContractContract
Contract TermsContract
Vitiating FactorsContract
Discharge of a ContractContract
Contract: RemediesContract
Human Rights: Rules and TheoryHuman rights
Human Rights in International and UK LawHuman rights
The European Convention ArticlesHuman rights
Restrictions and EnforcementHuman rights
Reform of Human Rights LawHuman rights
The Nature of Law
The Hart-Devlin Debate
- 3 things to know
- All three papers
Overview
Recall questions on what prompted the debate, Devlin's argument for shared moral bonds and the conclusions each side drew.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
What did Hart argue about private conduct that does not harm others?
How can enforcing morality through law protect vulnerable individuals?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What prompted the Hart-Devlin debate?
Model answer
The Wolfenden Report's recommendation to decriminalise private homosexual acts between consenting adults.
- 2
Why did Lord Devlin believe society requires shared moral bonds?
Model answer
Because shared moral bonds are essential to social cohesion and hold society together.
- 3
According to Devlin, what happens if common morality erodes?
Model answer
Social cohesion is threatened and society itself may be endangered.
- 4
What conclusion did Devlin draw about law's role in enforcing morality?
Model answer
That law may legitimately enforce common morality to preserve social cohesion.
- 5
According to Hart, is immorality alone a sufficient ground for making conduct criminal?
Model answer
No, Hart argued that immorality alone is insufficient ground for criminalisation.
- 6
What did Hart argue about private conduct that does not harm others?
Model answer
That it should remain beyond legal regulation.
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