A Dictionary of Legal Theory

Modern legal theory contains a wide range of approaches and topics. This book offers clear and precise explanations of the terminology and concepts of all the major branches of legal theory: from economic analysis of law to critical race theory to traditional analytical jurisprudence. It also contains longer entries on major topics which provide useful introductions to theoretical issues.

Modern legal theory contains a wide range of approaches and topics: from economic analysis of law to feminist legal theory to traditional analytical legal philosophy to a range of theories about justice. This healthy variety of jurisprudential work has created a problem: students and theorists working in one tradition may have difficulty understanding the concepts and terminology of a different tradition. This book works to make terminology and ways of thinking accessible. This dictionary covers topics from ''the autonomy of law'' to the ''will theory of rights'', from ''autopoiesis'' to ''wealth maximization'', and from ''John Austin'' to ''Ludwig Wittgenstein''. The most important concepts and ideas are presented in a simple dictionary format. There are also many longer entries, where the initial definition gives an accessible explanation, but the entry goes on to give more detailed information about the history of an idea and the debates currently surrounding it.