The Autonomy of Law Essays on Legal Positivism [Paperback]

This collection of original papers from distinguished legal theorists offers a challenging assessment of the nature and viability of legal positivism, a branch of legal theory which continues to dominate contemporary legal theoretical debates. To what extent is the law adequately described as autonomous? Should law claim autonomy? These and other questions are addressed by the authors in this carefully edited collection, and it will be of interest to all lawyers and scholars interested in legal philosophy and legal theory.

1. Too Thin and Too Rich: Distinguishing Features of Legal Positivism,Kent Greenawalt
2. Positivism as Pariah,Frederick Schauer
3. Does Positivism Matter?,R. George Wright
4. Law's Autonomy and Public Practical Reason,Gerald J. Postema
5. Farewell to `Legal Positivism': The Separation Thesis Unravelling,Klaus Fusser
6. The Concept of law and The Concept of Law,Neil MacCormack
7. The Truth in Legal Positivism,John Finnis
8. Law's Normative Claims,Philip Soper
9. Intention in Interpretation,Joseph Raz
10. Authority and Reason,Jules Coleman
11. Natural Law and Positive Law,Robert P. George

Robert P. George, Professor of Politics, Princeton University