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Full-Text Articles in Legal History
On The Incoherence Of Legal Positivism, John M. Finnis
On The Incoherence Of Legal Positivism, John M. Finnis
Journal Articles
Legal positivism is an incoherent intellectual enterprise. It sets itself an explanatory task which it makes itself incapable of carrying through. In the result it offers its students purported and invalid derivations of ought from is.
In this brief Essay I note various features of legal positivism and its history, before trying to identify this incoherence at its heart. I do not mean to renege on my belief that reflections on law and legal theory are best carried forward without reference to unstable and parasitic academic categories, or labels, such as "positivism" (or "liberalism" or "conservatism," etc.). I use the …
On 'Positivism' And 'Legal Rational Authority', John M. Finnis
On 'Positivism' And 'Legal Rational Authority', John M. Finnis
Journal Articles
This Article critiques Anthony Kronman’s book Max Weber, which provides an interpretation of Weber’s social theory of law concerning positivism and legal rational authority. In particular, the three premises of Kronman’s thesis regarding social theory are considered and their weaknesses are explained. Through this critique, the Author argues that no good reason has been presented to accept that Weber’s positivist theory is of value.