Interpretivism and the Limits of Law

This book explores whether understanding the law is qualitatively different from understanding a non-legal text and whether knowledge of a language is sufficient to understand legal content. It discusses the normative importance and descriptive impact of moral inferences in legal interpretation and critically analyses the claims of legal interpretivism. It also outlines a new direction of study and delineates the path for future research on moral inferences in legal interpretation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 13 December 2022
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd

Understanding the law is a complex and multifaceted concept that goes beyond simply comprehending a set of rules and regulations. It involves a deep understanding of the legal system, its principles, and its implications. In this challenging book, the authors explore whether and how understanding the law is qualitatively different from understanding a non-legal text or linguistic utterance. They also examine whether knowledge of a language alone is sufficient to comprehend legal content in that language.

The book provides a comprehensive overview of current studies of interpretivism, both in the common and civil law systems. It applies state-of-the-art theories and tools of modern philosophy of language to shed new light on traditional questions in legal theory. Chapters discuss the normative importance and descriptive impact of moral inferences in legal interpretation, critically analyzing the claims of legal interpretivism. The impressive selection of leading contributors explores an array of important topics, including metaethics, expressivism, and legal semantics.

The book outlines a new direction of study and delineates the path for future research on moral inferences in legal interpretation. It will be a thought-provoking read for legal scholars and students interested in legal theory, philosophy, and interpretation.

In conclusion, understanding the law requires a deep understanding of the legal system, its principles, and its implications. This challenging book provides a comprehensive exploration of this topic, applying state-of-the-art theories and tools to shed new light on traditional questions in legal theory. It will be a valuable resource for legal scholars and students alike.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781802209310