Introduction: Reading Law as a Moral Idea

Abstract:     
Nigel Simmonds’ book Law as a Moral Idea (OUP, 2007) addresses the main issues of the philosophy of law with refreshing directness. Simmonds revisits all the central debates of jurisprudence with superb skill and in elegant prose. He offers an ambitious and original argument that defends two theses: (a) that the idea of law is intrinsically moral, and (b) that the distinction between analytical and normative jurisprudence is false. This essay is a short introduction to a symposium on Simmonds’ book, based on an event held in Oxford in December 2009, including new essays by John Finnis, Timothy Endicott, John Gardner and a reply by Nigel Simmonds.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 6

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