What is Law? Aims and Means

Keywords: definition of the law, aims and means of the law, law and ethics, law and conventional social facts (keywords supplied by the editors)

English abstract: This article is an attempt at delimiting the area of philosophical research in order to define the conditions for an adequate definition of the law. This writer believes that this definition is achieved by identifying the particular aims and means which are set for the law and through which the social phenomenon of the law is realized. Assumedly, the definition is to be a response to the so-called normativism in the theory of law, that is, an attempt to explain the notion through the particular means (norms) used by the law. The writer tries to justify not only that his approach characterizes the law more fully, but also that it contributes to better understanding of the links between law and ethics, morality, politics or the remaining conventional social facts.

References:

1. Arystoteles, Etyka Nikomachejska.
2. Arystoteles, Polityka.
3. Austin J., The Province of Jurisprudence Determined. Cambridge 1995.
4. Bentham J., The Principles of Morals and Legislation, Buffalo (N.Y.) 1988.
5. Cicero, De Legibus.
6. Dworkin R., Taking Rights Seriously, London 1977.
7. Dworkin R., Law’s Empire, Cambridge 1986
8. Hart H.L.A., The Concept of Law, Oxford 1961.
9. Hegel G.W.F., Grundlinien der Philosophie des Rechts. W: E. Moldenhauer, K.M. Michel (red.), Werke, Vol. 7, Frankfurt am Main 1970.
10. Hobbes T., Lewiatan, Cambridge 1991.
11. von Jhering R., Der Zweck im Recht, Leipzig 1893.
12. Kant I., Kritik der reinen Vernunft, Edited by the Prussian Akademie, Vol. III, Berlin 1904.
13. Kant I., Metaphysik der Sitten, Metaphysische Anfangsgründe der Rechtslehre, Berlin 1907.
14. Kelsen H., Reine Rechtslehre. Wiedeń 1960.
15. Locke J., Second Treatise on Government, Raleigh (N.C.) 1991.
16. von der Pfordten D., Deskription, Evaluation, Präskription, Berlin 1993.
17. von der Pfordten D., Rechtsethik, München 2001.
18. von der Pfordten D., Was ist und Wozu Rechtsphilosophie?. “Juristenzeitung” 2004/59, 157-166.
19. Platon, Laches.
20. Platon, Państwo.
21. Radbruch G., Rechtsphilosophie, Heidelberg 2003.
22. Raz J., Legal Positivism and the Sources of Law, w: Raz J., The Authority of Law, Oxford 1979.
23. Ross A., Tû-Tû, “Harvard Law Review” 1956-57/70, 812-825.
24. Schopenhauer A., Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung, Darmstadt 1961.
25. Tomasz z Akwinu, Summa Theologiae.
26. Wittgenstein L., Tractatus logico-philsophicus, Frankfurt am Main 1995.