The Philosophy of Positive Law

The Philosophy of Positive Law

James Bernard Murphy • Yale University Press

ISBN-10: 0300191529 · ISBN-13: 978‑0300191523 · 2012

Live offer for this book: 8 live copies of this book from $18.28 (as of 2026-09-05).

Canonical book record

Completeness 46

Cover quality: good

2manybooks editorial

The Nile on eBay FREE SHIPPING UK WIDE The Philosophy of Positive Law by James Bernard Murphy In this first book-length study of positive law, James Bernard Murphy rewrites central chapters in the history of jurisprudence by uncovering a fundamental continuity among four great legal philosophers: Plato, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Hobbes, and John Austin. In their theories of positive law, Murphy argues, these thinkers represent successive chapters in a single fascinating story. That story revolves around a fundamental ambiguity: is law positive because it is deliberately imposed (as opposed to customary law) or because it lacks moral necessity (as opposed to natural law)? These two senses of positive law are not coextensive yet the discourse of positive law oscillates unstably between them. What, then, is the relation between being deliberately imposed and lacking moral necessity? Murphy demonstrates how the discourse of positive law incorporates both normative and descriptive dimensions of law, and he discusses the relation of positive law not only to jurisprudence but also to the philosophy of language, ethics, theories of social order, and biblical law. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Description for Bookstore Part history of philosophy, part philosophical investigation, this book rewrites central chapters in the history of jurisprudence by uncovering a continuity among four great legal philosophers: Plato, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Hobbes, and John Austin. In their theories of law, the author argues, these thinkers represent successive chapters in a single fascinating story. Details ISBN 0300191529 Author James Bernard Murphy Pages 256 Language English ISBN-10 0300191529 ISBN-13 9780300191523 Format Paperback Short Title PHILOSOPHY OF POSITIVE LAW Media Book Birth 1958 Imprint Yale University Press Subtitle Foundations of Jurisprudence Place of Publication New haven Country of Publication United States Illustrations black & white illustrations DEWEY 340/.112 UK Release Date 2005-08-02 Publisher Yale University Press Audience Professional & Vocational Year 2012 Publication Date 2012-07-09 US Release Date 2012-07-09 Country of Origin US Product Class Description Law, Citizenship & Rights AU Release Date 2012-07-08 NZ Release Date 2012-07-08 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. 30 DAY RETURN POLICY No questions asked, 30 day returns! FREE DELIVERY No matter where you are in the UK, delivery is free.

Book metadata

Marketplace observations

8 live copies of this book from $18.28 (as of 2026-09-05).

Contributors

Community signals

Have: 12 · Like: 4 · Rating: 3.8 / 5 (10)