The Concept of Law (ISBN 0-19-876122-8) is the most famous work of the legal philosopher H. L. A. Hart. It was first published in 1961 and develops Hart's theory of legal positivism (the view that laws are rules made by human beings and that there is no inherent or necessary connection between law and morality) within the framework of analytic philosophy. In this work, Hart sets out to write an essay of descriptive sociology and analytical jurisprudence. The Concept of Law provides an explanation to a number of traditional jurisprudential questions such as "what is law?", "must laws be rules?", and "what is the relation between law and morality?". Hart answers these by placing law into a social context while at the same time leaving the capability for rigorous analysis of legal terms. As a result Hart's view has remained one of the most influential in jurisprudence, while the book is considered as "the most successful work of analytical jurisprudence ever to appear in the common law world"
Read more about The Concept Of Law: Background, Austin's "Command Theory", Social Habits, Rules, and Laws
Famous quotes containing the words concept and/or law:
“The nearer a conception comes towards finality, the nearer does the dynamic relation, out of which this concept has arisen, draw to a close. To know is to lose.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)
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And never yet could frame my will to it,
And therefore frame the law unto my will.”
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