Future Law: Legal and Governance Responses to Transformative Societal Trends

Examination of challenges to law and government from disruptive technologies and environmental stresses. Topics include artificial intelligence, engineered environmental control, human modification and capabilities enhancement, lifespan extension, and severe environmental change. Consideration of likely or plausible trends in the next decade; resulting disruption to law and policy; and potential responses, both likely and desirable. Study is unavoidably speculative, but aims to keep it disciplined by present knowledge. Application of legal and institutional knowledge to new problems. Consideration of large-scale challenges originating outside the sphere of law that are likely to drive changes in substantive legal arrangements. Expectations for reading, engagement in critical and informed discussion, and quality of written work is high; and overall workload is demanding. Concurrently scheduled with Law 489. In Progress grading (credit to be given only on completion of course 289B).