A Treatise of Legal Philosophy and General Jurisprudence (8 Vol set)

The Treatise of Legal Philosophy and General Jurisprudence is a comprehensive treatment of the issues in legal philosophy and general jurisprudence. This major reference work will consist of a Theoretical Part, 5 volumes, to be published in 2005, and a Historical Part, 6 volumes, scheduled to be published by the end of 2006.

The work is aimed at jurists and at legal and practical philosophers. The theoretical part covers the main topics of contemporary debate. The historical volumes account for the development of legal thought from ancient Greek times through the twentieth century.


Volume 1: The Law and the Right, a Reappraisal of the Reality that Ought to be
by Enrico Pattaro

This work brings out and recovers the normative dimension of law, called "the reality that ought to be", placing within this reality the idea of what is right. Part I reconstructs the current as well as the traditional civil-law conception of the reality that ought to be and raises some critical theoretical issues. Part II introduces some basic concepts on language and behaviour and presents a conception of norms as beliefs. Part III aims to find explanations for the idea of a reality that ought to be. Part IV consists of inquiries focussed on Homeric epic, the natural-law school, and the normativistic view of positive law.