Introduction to the Problems of Legal Theory: A Translation of the First Edition of the Reine Rechtslehre or Pure Theory of Law

By Hans Kelsen and Hans ; Max Knight translator. Kelsen

Book Overview

One of the leading legal philosophers of this century, Kelsen published this short treatise in 1934, when the neo-Kantian influence on his work was at its zenith. An earlier, "constructivist" phase had been displaced by his effort to provide something approximating a neo-Kantian foundation for his theory. If this second phase represents the Pure Theory of Law in its most characteristic form, then the present treatise may well be its central text. And of Kelsen's many statements of the Pure Theory, this one is surely the most accessible. Topics covered include the legal norm and Kelsen's normativity thesis, law and morality, the role of ideology, the concept of the legal person, legal interpretation, the identity of law and state, and the theory of international law. Among the appendices is an annotated bibliography of secondary literature on Kelsen.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198255683
• ISBN13: 9780198255680
• Release Date: June 1992
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 214 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 0.7" x 5.7"

Customer Reviews

Pleased with my product

This book can be hard going but if you grasp the theories and understand how they are linked with jurisprudence than you will enjoy the book.

The most important book on philosophy of law ever published

This is undoubtely the most important book on philosophy of law ever written. It's the book that broke paradigms (in the Thomas Kuhn sense of expression)and brought scientific dignity to the study of law. You can divide the science of law between "before and after" the Pure Theory. Even other really important books, like "the Concept of Law", by Hart, or "On Law and Justice", by Alf Ross, would be not possible if Kelsen hadn't written this book first.

Kelsen's positivism: an old if necessary step

No doubts Kelsen is to be considered a watershed specially concerned to juridical thought. His efforts to break with the natural theories' tradition is of maximum importance for the basis on what the concepts of law and right were built. What is to be focused - as the importance of the works of Hans Kelsen is no new - is the impossibility of having his theory as the only one to be appliable to modern juridical dogmatics. Reading Kelsen is deffinitely a must for the ones who intend to study Law in deep. Nevertheless is to be kept in mind that his work is not and end in itself,but a solid and well structured beginning point.

Hans Kelsen is extremly successful in buliding his Theory

"Pure Theory of Law" is a classic and a must for Law and Philosophy students. Hans Kelsen is extremly successful in building concepts and also his theory. Although this "pure theory"is extremly criticised nowadays, its reading is essential ,and help readers to understand other theories clearly.