This volume investigates the philosophical foundations of criminal law by moving beyond the traditional focus on punishment to examine the underlying moral and legal concepts of action and value. The contributors, a group of prominent philosophers and legal scholars from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, challenge existing academic paradigms. By re-evaluating traditional legal classifications, the authors seek to dismantle false associations and establish a more rigorous framework for understanding criminal liability and responsibility.

Experts in the field of legal philosophy recognize this collection as a significant contribution to the reorientation of criminal law studies. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the rigorous analytical approach applied to complex jurisprudential problems.