The Problematics of Moral and Legal Theory

Ambitiouslegalthinkershavebecomemesmerizedbymoralphilosophy,believingthatgreatfiguresinthephilosophicaltraditionholdthekeystounderstandingandimprovinglawandjusticeandeventoresolvingthemostcontentiousissuesofconstitutionallaw.Theyarewrong,contendsRichardPosnerinthisbook.Posnercharacterizesthecurrentpreoccupationwithmoralandconstitutionaltheoryasthelatestformoflegalmystification?anevasionoftherealneedofAmericanlaw,whichisforagreaterunderstandingofthesocial,economic,andpoliticalfactsoutofwhichgreatlegalcontroversiesarise.Inpursuitofthatunderstanding,Posneradvocatesarebuildingofthelawonthepragmaticbasisofopen-mindedandsystematicempiricalinquiryandtherejectionofcantandnostalgia?thetrueprofessionalismforeseenbyOliverWendellHolmesacenturyago.Abracingbookthatpullsnopunchesandleavesnopietiesunpuncturedorsacredcowsunkicked,TheProblematicsofMoralandLegalTheoryoffersasweepingtourofthecurrentsceneinlegalstudies?andahopefulprospectforitsfuture.,