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Law's Quandary By Smith, Steven D. - Very Good Paperback
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Condition:
Very Good
A book that does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. No obvious damage to the cover, with the dust jacket (if applicable) included for hard covers. No missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, and no underlining/highlighting of text or writing in the margins. May be very minimal identifying marks on the inside cover. Very minimal wear and tear. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections.
- Buy It NowLaw's Quandary By Smith, Steven D. - Very Good Paperback
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Located in: Xenia, Ohio, United States
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eBay item number:226891660809
Item specifics
- Condition
- Brand
- Unbranded
- Book Title
- Law's Quandary
- MPN
- Does not apply
- ISBN
- 9780674025738
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Harvard University Press
ISBN-10
0674025733
ISBN-13
9780674025738
eBay Product ID (ePID)
59794963
Product Key Features
Number of Pages
222 Pages
Language
English
Publication Name
Law's Quandary
Subject
Jurisprudence, Legal History
Publication Year
2007
Type
Textbook
Subject Area
Law
Format
Trade Paperback
Dimensions
Item Height
0.1 in
Item Weight
13 Oz
Item Length
0.9 in
Item Width
0.6 in
Additional Product Features
Intended Audience
Scholarly & Professional
Dewey Edition
22
Reviews
Smith's treatment of the issues he addresses is outstanding. His discussion is consistently probing, thoughtful, and imaginative. Smith's range of reference is impressively broad--yet I never had the sense that he was trying to impress. His clarity--aided by his wonderfully engaging, and occasionally humorous, conversational style--is exemplary. But the enviable clarity/accessibility of Smith's writing should not obscure just how penetrating--I am tempted to say, brilliant--his commentary is. It may sound faintly ridiculous to say this, but I thought that this book was a jurisprudential page turner., Ordinary people assume that legal terms like freedom of speech have some real or true meaning. Most important legal theorists say there is no such thing. It is not unheard of for the sophisticated classes to reach conclusions at odds with common sense. But this creates a real problem for the stability of our legal system. Smith explores this quandary in a way that is wonderfully clear, honest, and funny. This is the best book I have read in several years., Smith argues that there is an ontological gap between prevalent legal theories and legal practice. He is concerned that the realist and pragmatic approaches of Holmes, Llewellyn, Fuller, and, later, Posner refuse to acknowledge the metaphysical component of law. He proceeds to demonstrate persuasively that words, statutes, and judicial decisions alone cannot account for common assumptions and behavior in the everyday practice of law. He concludes that efforts to 'squirm' out of 'the Law' as a metaphysical force have failed. Having illustrated the continuing gap between practice and theory, the author examines how meaning might be attributed to the law. He rejects the idea that meaning is created by the interpreter or reader. There are various ways of positing the author of a law, but a law's meaning flows from the intentions of its enactor, however conceived. Smith concludes that the classical belief in a metaphysical presence behind the law remains alive, although circumspectly submerged, in the practice of law today. This is a timely, down-to-earth critique of those who have rejected the possibility of functioning legal principles beyond the day-to-day decisions and practice of law.
Dewey Decimal
340/.1
Table Of Content
Preface Part I. Law and Metaphysics? 1. Just Words? 2. Ontological Dynasties Part II. (How) Is Law for Real? 3. Does "the Law" Exist? 4. the Jurisprudence of Modernity Part III. The Metaphysics of Legal Meaning 5. How Does Law Mean? 6. Author(s) Wanted Part IV. Mind the Gap 7. Law in a Quandary Epilogue: Confusion and Confession Notes Index
Synopsis
This lively book reassesses a century of jurisprudential thought from a fresh perspective, and points to a malaise that currently afflicts not only legal theory but law in general. Steven Smith argues that our legal vocabulary and methods of reasoning presuppose classical ontological commitments that were explicitly articulated by thinkers from Aquinas to Coke to Blackstone, and even by Joseph Story. But these commitments are out of sync with the world view that prevails today in academic and professional thinking. So our law-talk thus degenerates into "just words"--or a kind of nonsense. The diagnosis is similar to that offered by Holmes, the Legal Realists, and other critics over the past century, except that these critics assumed that the older ontological commitments were dead, or at least on their way to extinction; so their aim was to purge legal discourse of what they saw as an archaic and fading metaphysics. Smith's argument starts with essentially the same metaphysical predicament but moves in the opposite direction. Instead of avoiding or marginalizing the "ultimate questions," he argues that we need to face up to them and consider their implications for law., Smith argues that our legal vocabulary and methods of reasoning presuppose classical ontological commitments that were articulated by thinkers from Aquinas to Coke to Blackstone to Story. But these commitments are out of sync with the world view that now prevails in academic and professional thinking. So our law-talk degenerates into "just words."
LC Classification Number
K230.S627L39 2007
Item description from the seller
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Seller feedback (10,511)
- g***g (84)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseVery fast shipper, excellent packaging, and security to prevent damage. Multiple items were combined into a single package, which saved me material shipping costs. I highly recommend transacting with the seller. Items were exactly as described. Great value for the item sold.Noritake Coypel Small Oval Serving Platter 8 3/4" x 11 3/4" Excellent (#256904985321)
- n***g (789)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseGreat service. I received the yarn 3 days after placing the order. The yarn is exactly as described. Would not hesitate to order from this seller again.
- m***m (1760)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseMy item was packaged properly, shipped quickly and arrived exactly as pictured and described. Seller's prices are reasonable; I would highly recommend this seller.