- "Philosophy of law is a branch of philosophy that examines the nature of law and law's relationship to other systems of norms, especially ethics and political philosophy."
The study of legal systems and principles.
Natural law: The belief that there are certain moral laws that are inherent in human nature and can be discovered through reason.
Legal positivism: The view that the only valid sources of law are those created by the social conventions and rules of a particular society or nation.
Legal realism: The belief that the application of law depends on the subjective views of judges, lawyers, and other legal professionals, and is influenced by social, economic, and political factors.
Legal formalism: The view that the application of law should be based solely on a strict interpretation of legal texts, such as the constitution, statutes, and case law.
Rights theory: The study of the nature and extent of individual rights, and the relationship between individual rights and government authority and responsibility.
Ethics and justice: The study of moral principles and their application in determining what is fair and just in legal contexts.
Political philosophy: The study of the nature of government, political systems, and the relationships between individuals, society, and the state.
Feminist legal theory: The study of how legal systems have traditionally oppressed women, and the ways in which laws and legal practices can be reformed to better represent women's interests.
Critical legal studies: The study of how power and ideology shape legal systems and legal reasoning, and the ways in which law can be used to either oppress or liberate individuals and groups.
Jurisprudence: The study of the theory and philosophy of law, including questions about the nature of law, legal systems, and legal reasoning.
- "What is law?", "What are the criteria for legal validity?", and "What is the relationship between law and morality?"
- "Philosophy of law and jurisprudence are often used interchangeably, though jurisprudence sometimes encompasses forms of reasoning that fit into economics or sociology."
- "Philosophy of law can be sub-divided into analytical jurisprudence, and normative jurisprudence."
- "Analytical jurisprudence aims to define what law is and what it is not by identifying law's essential features."
- "Normative jurisprudence investigates both the non-legal norms that shape law and the legal norms that are generated by law and guide human action."