ON THE HISTORY OF THE IDEA OF LAW; ED. BY NOEL B. EDWARDS

On the History of the Idea of Law is the first book ever to trace the development of the philosophical theory of law from its first appearance in Plato's writings to today. Professor Letwin finds important and positive insights and tensions in the theories of Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Hobbes. She finds confusions and serious errors introduced by Cicero, Aquinas, Bentham, and Marx. She harnesses the insights of H. L. A. Hart and especially Michael Oakeshott to mount a devastating attack on the late twentieth-century theories of Ronald Dworkin, the Critical Legal Studies movement, and feminist jurisprudence. In all of this, Professor Letwin finds the rule of law to be the key to modern liberty and the standard of justice. This is the final work of the distinguished historian and theorist Shirley Robin Letwin, a major figure in the revival of Conservative thought and doctrine from 1960 onwards, who died in 1993. On The History Of The Idea Of Law Is The First Book Ever To Trace The Development Of The Philosophical Theory Of Law From Its First Appearance In Plato's Writings To Today. Shirley Robin Letwin Finds Important And Positive Insights And Tensions In The Theories Of Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, And Hobbes. She Finds Confusions And Serious Errors Introduced By Cicero, Aquinas, Bentham, And Marx. She Harnesses The Insights Of H. L. A. Hart And Especially Michael Oakeshott To Mount A Devastating Attack On The Late Twentieth-century Theories Of Ronald Dworkin, The Critical Legal Studies Movement, And Feminist Jurisprudence. In All Of This, Dr. Letwin Finds The Rule Of Law To Be The Key To Modern Liberty And The Standard Of Justice.--book Jacket. Editor's Preface; Introduction; Part I. Law Anchored To A Cosmic Order: 1. Plato; 2. Aristotle; 3. Cicero; Part Ii. The Christian Revision: 4. St Augustine; 5. St Thomas Aquinas; Part Iii. The Modern Quest: 6. Thomas Hobbes; 7. John Locke; 8. Immanuel Kent; 9. Jeremy Bentham; Part Iv. The Significance Of Rules: 10. From Historical Jurisprudence To Realism; 11. The Defense Of Rules; Part V. The Idea Of Law Repudiated: 12. Marxist Theories; 13. Political Jurisprudence 1; 14. Political Jurisprudence 2; Part Vi. New Foundations: 15. A Skeptical Jurisprudence; 16. Postscript; Index. Shirley Robin Letwin ; Edited By Noel B. Reynolds. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 2 Title - Full......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Editor's preface......Page 8 Introduction: The idea of law......Page 12 Part I - Law anchored to a cosmic order......Page 18 1 - Plato......Page 20 2 - Aristotle......Page 32 3 - Cicero......Page 53 Part II - The Christian revision......Page 68 4 - St. Augustine......Page 70 5 - St. Thomas Aquinas......Page 80 Part III - The modern quest......Page 100 6 - Thomas Hobbes......Page 102 7 - John Locke......Page 119 8 - Immanuel Kant......Page 146 9 - Jeremy Bentham......Page 164 Part IV - The significance of rules......Page 194 10 - From historical jurisprudence to Realism: Savigny, Jhering, Duguit, Holmes, Gray, Frank......Page 196 11 - The defense of rules: Edward Levi, Hans Kelsen, H. L. A. Hart......Page 211 Part V - The idea of law repudiated......Page 230 12 - Marxist theories......Page 232 13 - Political jurisprudence I: From Realism to feminist jurisprudence......Page 258 14 - Political jurisprudence II: Ronald Dworkin......Page 287 Part VI - New foundations......Page 316 15 - A skeptical jurisprudence: Michael Oakeshott......Page 318 16 - Postscript: Morality, individualism, and law......Page 337 Index......Page 358 On the History of the Idea of Law traces the development of the philosophical theory of law from its first appearance in Plato's writings to today. Shirley Letwin finds important and positive insights and tensions in the theories of Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Hobbes as well as confusion and serious errors introduced by Cicero, Aquinas, Bentham, and Marx. She harnesses the insights of H.L.A. Hart and especially Michael Oakeshott to mount a devastating attack on the late twentieth-century theories of Ronald Dworkin, the Critical Legal Studies movement, and feminist jurisprudence. Table of Contents Editor's preface Introduction Part I. Law Anchored to a Cosmic Order: 1. Plato 2. Aristotle 3. Cicero Part II. The Christian Revision: 4. St Augustine 5. St Thomas Aquinas Part III. The Modern Quest: 6. Thomas Hobbes 7. John Locke 8. Immanuel Kent 9. Jeremy Bentham Part IV. The Significance of Rules: 10. From historical jurisprudence to realism 11. The Defence of Rules Part V. The Idea of Law Repudiated: 12. Marxist Theories 13. Political jurisprudence 1 14. Political jurisprudence 2 Part VI. New Foundations: 15. A skeptical jurisprudence 16. Postscript Index The final work of the celebrated conservative thinker Shirley Robin Letwin, On The History of the Idea of Law is the first book ever to collect and criticise the basic theories of law propounded by the great philosophers from Plato to the present The final work of the celebrated conservative thinker Shirley Robin Letwin, On The History of the Idea of Law collects and criticises the basic theories of law propounded by the great philosophers from Plato to the present. The idea of law has been at the heart of Western civilization since its beginnings in ancient Greece.