ABSTRACT
This first chapter provides an introduction to philosophy for non-philosophy readers, and an introduction to criminal law and the criminal trial process for non-law readers. Philosophy is understood as the detailed analysis of the meanings of difficult concepts. It introduces the central concept of responsibility, as well as three other philosophical themes that will be running through the book: subjectivity vs. objectivity (and the reasonable person standard), the role of luck in criminal law and the phenomenon of “moral luck,” and a feminist theme. It lays out six areas of the law that are not covered in the book. Finally, it then offers summaries of each chapter.
