24 January 2009

Basic Concepts of Legal Thought -- George P. Fletcher



This book is basically a philosophy of law book. It is written for non-lawyers as an introduction to legal thinking and the law, but also for lawyers who want a deeper understanding of the philosophical background of their work. It is very broad in scope, very well written and provides quite a bit of insight into issues related to legal systems. I personally learned a lot about the law from the first page through to the end.

It is a quick read, being a relatively short book. The book is broken into three parts. Part I: The Legal System. Part II: Ultimate Values. Part III: Morality In The Law. These are further broken down into more refined elements. I think what is most interesting is the comparison of the Anglo-American legal system to other legal systems around the world. It is enlightening to someone who only has passing knowledge of our own system.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in the law, philosophical foundations of the law, and interesting questions raised in the realm of the legal thought.

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