The Problems of Jurisprudence

503 Pages·1993·17.95 MB·English

by  The Honorable Richard A. Posner

The Problems °
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Richard A.
| Posner
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one of our country's most distinguished! scholar

judges shares with us his vision of the law. For the past two
thousand years, the philosophy of law has been dominated by two
val doctrines. One contends that law

more than politics and yields,
inthe hands of skill judges, correct answers

a the most dif
cull legal questions; the other maintains that law is politics throug
anc! through and that judges wield esse

ally arbitrary powe
Rejecting these doctrines as too metaphysical in the first instance and
too nihilistic inthe second, Richard Posner argues for pra
iurisprudenc

Richard Posner is onc of the nation’s most influential thinkers

He spearheaded the law and economies movement that has, in th

yes of many, revolutignized the entire legal enterprise ... The bulk of
his book consists of close analyses .. and critical discussions .. all a
which are bolstered by an impressive array of references ta the rich
literature of contemporary lav, philosoph

{Calvin Woodward, New York Himes Book Review

Posner's} hook will challenge everyone, Alls

upon the work, ev

UW isan] extraordi
obert AK

nas they differ with it and among themselves
llectually stimulating book

an Science Monitor

ough this remarkable book, Posner's vision f law
slowly builds to a climax that .. awesome... [Hel tackles al the

basic problems of legal thought and of moral and political philosophy
since the time of Plato and Aristotle fand| enables us to see the richly
textured fabric of our legal system in a more coher
has anyone else

Stephen B. Presses, Chicago Teibume

Richard A. Posner isa judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Seventh Cire

a senior lecturer at the University of Chicago Law
School, and the author of many books, including Sex amd Reasan an
Law and Literature (hoth fram Harvard),

sar til
TIF PRORT EMS OF JURISERUDENCE

THE PROBLEMS of
JURISPRUDENCE

Richard A. Posner

In Memoric,
Pas M. Bacor

Contents

Pretice “i
Introduction: The Brrth of Lave ud the Rise
sn Juriggidence
The Orie of Law and frigence 4
1 Sow Histor ofJnipraiee
A Presa ce Hoke 24

PARL L THT RPISTEMOLOGY OF LAW

1. Law as Fogle, Rules, std Scene
“The Spllogin sd Cher Merk of 1
Beales, Stands and isttion 42
Sree Ob or

ogal Ressonang Praevieat Reasoning 7

Few te Practcn’ Reason? FP

unity 79

Racing i dvalagy 86

ANat on Fog) Mlacidow 93

a

23, Other Hantnacons of Wractical Revsnning in Lae wl
Inierpcion Wit
BMeinelind Revelliy 105
Tait Koowng 10
Sabin the Tet of Tine 10

4. Legitimacy :o Agedieation tat
he Proleeof Renu Pradouene 124
Bop verse Peden se Ment jo ital Autos 13
Hise fuer’ irons Changed? 158
rst Tayo Sais 153
i Caen,

PART U1. THE ON LOLOGY OF LAW

>. Ontology: se Mand, and Behaviorism tat

irl Sbeeian iC

‘ond Cover Messy
fama the Juda Maen

u Biviter ie Law 167
ere]

Feo

1 Are There Right Answecrs wv Lox Questions? a
Quedions uf ne 19
Quesions of Bier 20

7. What Is Lan and Why Ask? ma
Ie ara Mody of Reso Poacher om Activity, 0 Bate? 20
Hialres, Meizu, snd Prayeration 239

PAIL HL INTERPRE LATION REVISITED
. Ceeamon Law versne Scatute Law oF
¥. Objectivity in Statutory Interpret me
The PaieAdcouiny Falley 262
Ve Questor eration Theory 280
Tedhisninte Sooo, xeer 27
TL How to Desde Scataery and Cor
1s Chmonmoiian Ser Most? 25
Beyond terpesaian 299

PART IV. SUBSTANTIVE JUSTICE
Te Cones tons, Retecive, Provera, ad
iste bine: unt 313
Cavite fie ashe Rate Cae 310

Aue on Retain Justis eed 4 ghee UO
Poona fan 332

lipntve fase 338

ho Hie Son Palos oe Cir Lane? OE

12, The Lesmomie Approach es Law
China he Pasion Theory 362
isn ofthe Neoosive Theery 574
Cvants haw Rissied 3