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Loading... Pure Theory of Law (1934)by Hans Kelsen
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Reprint of the second revised and enlarged edition, being a completely revised version of the first edition which was published in 1934. Kelsen 1881-1973], was the author of more than forty works on law and legal philosophy, and is best known for this title and General Theory of Law and State. He was also the author of the Austrian Democratic Constitution, which was published in 1920, abolished during the Nazi regime, restored in 1945, and in force today. Walker calls Kelsen "possibly the most influential jurisprudent of the twentieth century." Walker, Oxford Companion to Law 699. No library descriptions found. |
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The author frequently emphasizes that his pure jurisprudence, which has quite misleadingly been translated as ”science” of law in this English translation, is independent of the ”political” aspects of law. This is somewhat disappointing from a philosophical point of view, because it means that the author disavows any considerations that have to do with legitimacy and illegitimacy. According to him, a ”valid” constitution can be put in force by any revolutionary victor, no matter how absurd and unfair its content may be. Dictators across the world could quote the Pure Theory of Law to prove that their coercion is based on ”valid” grounds.
The English translation of this book also seems a bit wobbly at times. The real meaning of some sentences has clearly been lost in translation, others are just overly complicated. I liked the chapters on the state and international law most, but the book mentioned above is a much broader analysis of these subjects. The concluding chapter on legal interpretation was also nice, but very short. Overall this is a book for the ages, but only for a very narrow community of legal scholars. Let's hope they won't serve dictatorial governments. The audience of this book could have expanded significantly if the theory had been a little bit less ”pure”.