Author Description

Textbook on Jurisprudence provides a clear, user-friendly analysis of the major theories and controversies of jurisprudence. Written from a general Positivist's point of view, all the main - and some of the less well-known - schools of thought are presented and discussed in sufficient detail for the student to gain an accurate understanding of them. Key areas to be found within Textbook on Jurisprudence are Critical Legal Studies and The Economic Analysis of Law which are not often easily sourced elsewhere. Also unique to this textbook on legal philosophy is the discussion of islamic law - the authors taking the view that all too often jurisprudence is taught with a westerncentric vision that is unhelpful to understanding fully the nature of the subject. With each school of thought laid bare in terms of explanation, and combined with the insightful and directive further reading sections at the close of each chapter, this book provides an excellent and approachable introduction to jurisprundetial arguements. The book starts by examining the nature of jurisprudence, then goes on to outline the content, implications and problems of the major legal theories. The authors impart the relevant knowledge in a balanced and highly readable way, creating a user-friendly text, commendably unfussy in its written style. This fourth edition has been updated and expanded to include two new chapters on areas of growing interest in Jurisprudence; Feminist Jurisprudence and Law and Anthropology, as well as with regard to the latest philosophical arguments.