女性の権利、人種差別、環境問題などの具体的なトピックもとりあげながら、法律の社会的、道徳的、文化的土台を広く検討し、解説する入門書です。新版は法的現実主義についての議論を追加しており、ロナルド・ドウォーキン（2013年没）、ニール・マコーミック（2009年没）、スコット・シャピロ（イェール大教授）、ジョン・フィニス（オックスフォード大教授）など、近年の主要な法哲学者の成果も盛り込む形で改訂しています。
   

• A lively and accessible introduction to the social, moral, and cultural foundations of law
• Takes a broad scope spanning philosophy, law, politics, economics, and discusses a wide range of topics including women's rights, racism, and the environment
• Approaches the great debates and controversies with clarity by avoiding technical language
• Reveals the intriguing and challenging nature of legal philosophy

New to this Edition:

• Incorporates the highly significant works of Ronald Dworkin, Scott Shapiro, John Finnis, and Neil McCormick
• Includes a new section on legal realism
• Includes new material on historical and anthropological jurisprudence
• Further reading section has been revised and updated

 
The concept of law lies at the heart of our social and political life. Legal philosophy, or jurisprudence, explores the notion of law and its role in society, illuminating its meaning and its relation to the universal questions of justice, rights, and morality. 

In this Very Short Introduction Raymond Wacks analyses the nature and purpose of the legal system, and the practice by courts, lawyers, and judges. Wacks reveals the intriguing and challenging nature of legal philosophy with clarity and enthusiasm, providing an enlightening guide to the central questions of legal theory.

In this revised edition Wacks makes a number of updates including new material on legal realism, changes to the approach to the analysis of law and legal theory, and updates to historical and anthropological jurisprudence. 
 
 
Reading Guide