The Blackwell Guide to the Philosophy of Law and Legal Theory (Blackwell Philosophy Guides Book 15)

Written by an international assembly of distinguished philosophers and legal theorists, The Blackwell Guide to the Philosophy of Law and Legal Theory brings into focus the central contemporary themes and issues in the area. Each of the 23 essays incorporates essential background material and advances key arguments. Topics include legal positivism, natural law theory, critical legal theory, American Legal Realism, feminist legal theory, criminal law, contract law, tort law, evidence, obligation, theories of rights, punishment, legal reasoning, objectivity, theories of law, continental perspectives on law, and many others. A Complete Critical Survey Of The Central Themes And Issues Of The Philosophy Of Law Today. Focusing And Advancing Key Arguments Throughout, Each Essay Incorporates Essential Background Material Serving To Clarify The History And Logic Of The Relevant Topic. Contending Schools Of Thought -- Natural Law Theory / Mark C. Murphy -- Legal Positivism / Brian H. Bix -- American Legal Realism / Brian Leiter -- Economic Rationality In The Analysis Of Legal Rules And Institutions / Lewis A. Kornhauser -- Critical Legal Theory / Mark V. Tushnet -- Four Themes In Feminist Legal Theory : Difference, Dominance, Domesticity, And Denial / Patricia Smith -- Doctrinal Domains And Their Philosophical Foundations -- Criminal Law Theory / Douglas Husak -- Philosophy Of Tort Law / Benjamin C. Zipursky -- Contract Theory / Eric A. Posner -- The Commons And The Anticommons In The Law And Theory Of Property / Stephen R. Munzer -- Legal Evidence / Alvin I. Goldman -- Perennial Topics -- Legal And Moral Obligation / Matthew H. Kramer -- Theories Of Rights / Alon Harel -- A Contractualist Approach To Punishment / Claire Finkelstein -- Responsibility / Martin P. Golding -- Legislation / Jeremy J. Waldron -- Constitutionalism / Larry A. Alexander -- Adjudication And Legal Reasoning / Richard Warner -- Privacy / William A. Edmundson -- Continental Perspectives -- Continental Perspectives On Natural Law Theory And Legal Positivism / Jes Bjarup -- Some Contemporary Trends In Continental Philosophy Of Law / Guy Haarscher -- Methodological Concerns -- Objectivity / Nicos Stavropoulos -- Can There Be A Theory Of Law? / Joseph Raz. Edited By Martin P. Golding And William A. Edmundson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Natural law theory / Mark C. Murphy Legal positivism / Brian H. Bix American legal realism / Brian Leiter Economic rationality in the analysis of legal rules and institutions / Lewis A. Kornhauser Critical legal theory / Mark V. Tushnet Four themes in feminist legal theory : difference, dominance, domesticity, and denial / Patricia Smith Criminal law theory / Douglas Husak Philosophy of tort law / Benjamin C. Zipursky Contract theory / Eric A. Posner The commons and the anticommons in the law and theory of property / Stephen R. Munzer Legal evidence / Alvin I. Goldman Legal and moral obligation / Matthew H. Kramer Theories of rights / Alon Harel A contractarian approach to punishment / Claire Finkelstein Responsibility / Martin P. Golding Legislation / Jeremy J. Waldron Constitutionalism / Larry A. Alexander Adjudication and legal reasoning / Richard Warner Privacy / William A. Edmundson Continental perspectives on natural law theory and legal positivism / Jes Bjarup Some contemporary trends in continental philosophy of law / Guy Haarscher Objectivity / Nicos Stavropoulos Can there be a theory of law? / Joseph Raz. The Blackwell Guide to the Philosophy of Law and Legal Theory is a handy guide to the state of play in contemporary philosophy of law and legal theory. Comprises 23 essays critical essays on the central themes and issues of the philosophy of law today, written by an international assembly of distinguished philosophers and legal theorists Each essay incorporates essential background material on the history and logic of the topic, as well as advancing the arguments Represents a wide variety of perspectives on current legal theory Written by an international assembly of distinguished philosophers and legal theorists, The Blackwell Guide to the Philosophy of Law and Legal Theory creates a groundbreaking student resource in critical essays on the central themes and issues of the philosophy of law today. . Natural law theorists claim that, necessarily, law is a rational standard for conduct: it is a standard that agents have strong, even decisive, reasons to comply with.