2) Fundamental Principles of Private Law

Learning outcomes:
- Students explain the historical and philosophical background of principles of private law.
- Students define legal principles as systemic rules permeating private law and differentiate them from specific statutory provisions.
- Students apply the three-step proportionality test (suitability, necessity, proportionality stricto sensu) to hypothetical cases.
- Students analyse the role of principles in interpretation, application, and creation of law.
- Students categorise legal principles according to different criteria.
- Students interpret and apply core principles governing private law relations, including autonomy of will, equality, protection of the weaker party, and good faith.

Relevant provisions of Czech Civil Code: 
Sects. 2, 3, 7, 8, 15, 19, 661, 1089 et seq., 1109 et seq., 1765, 1785 et seq., 2056

Case law: 
CZ: CC Case No Pl. ÚS 33/97
CZ: CC Case No I. ÚS 2166/10
CZ: CC Case No II. ÚS 1774/14
CZ: CC Case No I. ÚS 185/04
CZ: CC Case No II. ÚS 249/97
CZ: SC Case No 3 Cdon 69/96

Sources:
* Dvořák, J.; Švestka, J.; Zuklínová, M. a kol. Občanské právo hmotné. Svazek 1. Díl první: Obecná část. 2., aktualizované a doplněné vydání. Praha: Wolters Kluwer ČR, a. s., 2016, pp. 47-54.
* Dworkin, R. Taking Rights Seriously. London – New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2013, p. 38 et seq.
* Eliáš, K.; Zuklínová, M. Principy a východiska nového kodexu soukromého práva. Praha: Linde Praha a. s., 2001, pp. 132-135.
* Frinta, O. Private Law in the Czech Republic – Development, Presence and Prospects, In Moon, J.; Tomášek, M. et al. Law Crossing Eurasia. From Korea to the Czech Republic. Passau-Berlin-Prague: rw&w, 2015, pp. 63-89.
* Hobbes, T. Leviathan or the Matter, Forme, & Power of a Common-wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil. London: Andrew Crooke, 1651, p. 172. Available at: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://historyofeconomicthought.mcmaster.ca/hobbes/Leviathan.pdf [visited 2025-12-30].
* Hrstková, J. Fundamentals of Czech Civil Law. Czech Law and European Union. Textbooks Vol. 5. Praha: Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Právnická fakulta, 2005, pp. 11-12.
* Pelikánová, I.; Pelikán, R. Komentář k § 3. In Švestka, J.; Dvořák, J.; Fiala, J. a kol. Občanský zákoník. Komentář Svazek I. 2. vyd. Praha: Wolters Kluwer ČR, 2020, pp. 18-25.
* Zuklínová, M. Status – rodinné právo – nový občanský zákoník. In Správní právo č. 2003/5-6, p. 295 et seq.