Philosophical Foundations of the Nature of Law

Inrecentyearswehavewitnessedmajordevelopmentsinphilosophicalinquiryconcerningthenatureoflawand,withthecontinuingdevelopmentofinternationalandtransnationallegalinstitutions,inthephenomenonoflawitself.Thisvolumegathersleadingwritersinthefieldtotakestockofcurrentdebatesonthenatureoflawandtheaimsandmethodsoflegalphilosophy.Thevolumecoversfourbroadthemes.Theessayswithinthefirstthemeaddressanddevelopthetraditionaldebatesbetweenlegalpositivism,naturallawtheory,andDworkinianinterpretivism.Paperswithinthesecondthemefocusonthepowerofcoercion,oftenoverlookedincontemporarylegalphilosophy.Thethirdsetofpapersaddressestheaimsandmethodsoflegaltheory,andtheroleofconceptualanalysis.Thefinalsectionexploresnewmethodsandissuesinthesubject,andoffersfreshstartingpointsforfutureworkinthefield.Gatheringmanyleadingandup-and-comingwritersinthesubject,thevolumeoffersasnapshotofthebestcurrentworkingeneraljurisprudence.