Rethinking Historical Jurisprudence

Hardback

Rethinking Historical Jurisprudence

9781802200737 Edward Elgar Publishing
Geoffrey Samuel, Professor Emeritus, Kent Law School, UK
Publication Date: 2022 ISBN: 978 1 80220 073 7 Extent: 406 pp
This stimulating book considers the ways in which historical jurisprudence deserves to be rethought, arguing that there is much more to the history of legal thought than the ideas, and ideology, of the nineteenth and early twentieth century jurists, such as Karl von Savigny and Sir Henry Maine.

Copyright & permissions

Recommend to librarian

Your Details

Privacy Policy

Librarian Details

Download leaflet

Print page

More Information
Critical Acclaim
Contents
More Information
This stimulating book considers the ways in which historical jurisprudence deserves to be rethought, arguing that there is much more to the history of legal thought than the ideas, and ideology, of the nineteenth and early twentieth century jurists, such as Karl von Savigny and Sir Henry Maine.

In doing so, Geoffrey Samuel looks at the history of legal thought, method and reasoning from the position of three questions that will help readers to reflect on the nature of legal knowledge. First, what has legal knowledge been in the past? Secondly, taking a cue from the work of Thomas Kuhn, have there been scientific revolutions in the history of law? Thirdly, do jurists today know more about law as a body of knowledge than jurists of the past? In other words, does the history of law reveal a body of cumulative knowledge? This nuanced book shows how, in re-examining legal knowledge from a diachronic perspective, historical jurisprudence can be rethought as a domain concerned with contemporary legal epistemology.

Ambitious in its scope, Rethinking Historical Jurisprudence will be a key resource for students and scholars in the fields of legal philosophy, legal theory and history and research methods in law.
Critical Acclaim
‘Geoffrey Samuel is a leading legal comparatist and epistemologist whose decades-long scholarship has made fundamental contributions to the nature and dynamics of legal reasoning in both Common and Civil law jurisdictions. Rethinking Historical Jurisprudence represents a major step along Samuel’s rich intellectual path. It makes a compelling – and much-needed – case for reconsidering what amounts to “historical legal thought”. Learned yet accessible, Rethinking Historical Jurisprudence is a must-read for all those interested in the history and epistemology of legal reasoning.’
– Luca Siliquini-Cinelli, University of Dundee, UK
Contents
Contents: Preface Introduction to historical jurisprudence 1. Paradigms and revolutions 2. Schemes and paradigm orientations 3. Roman legal methods and reasoning 4. Roman legal methods and reasoning 5. Post-Roman methods and methodologies 6. Contemporary methods and methodological issues 7. Terminology and the foundations of legal theory 8. Taxonomy and theory building 9. Private law theory and the resurgence of formalism 10. Have there been scientific revolutions in law? 11. Is legal knowledge cumulative (or has there been progress in law)? 12. Is legal knowledge cumulative (or has there been progress in law)? Conclusion Bibliography Index
eBook for individuals
978 1 80220 074 4
From £25.00
Click here for options
eBook for library purchase
978 1 80220 074 4
View sample chapter and check access on:
eBook options

Available for individuals to buy from these websites

Or recommend to your institution to acquire on Elgaronline
  • Buy as part of an eBook subject collection - flexible options available
  • Downloading and printing allowed
  • No limits on concurrent user access, ideal for course use
My Cart