Academic

Postema on Jurisprudence

By Lawrence Solum

Gerald J. Postema (University of North Carolina - Philosophy and Law) has posted Jurisprudence (ENCYCLOPEDIA OF UTILITARIANISM, James E. Crimmins, ed., New York: Continuum International Publishers, Forthcoming) on SSRN. Here is the abstract:

This essay offers a brief history of philosophical jurisprudence in the utilitarian tradition, broadly construed. Starting from its headwaters in Epicurean understanding of justice, this story summarizes contributions to the philosophy of law of Aquinas and Marsilius of Padua, Hobbes and Hume, Bentham and Austin, Holmes, Salmond and Hart. Bentham emerges as the pivotal figure giving utilitarian jurisprudence its distinctive, positivist modern form. The philosophical ambitions and the breadth of intellectual vision of Bentham?s thought stands as a challenge to contemporary work in the field.

Highly recommended.

Full post as published by Legal Theory Blog on March 25, 2011 (boomark / email).