The Authority of Law Essays on Law and Morality, 2nd Edition

A classic work, widely influential and still frequently cited, essential reading for all scholars and students of legal philosophy
Widely regarded as Raz's most accessible work, the book offers an ideal introduction for students to the work of a major legal philosopher
Pagination of the main text is unaltered from the original edition, allowing citations to be easily followed
New to this edition

Includes two previously uncollected essays that develop Raz's views on the nature of law, and a new introduction by the author
This classic collection of essays, first published in 1979, has had an enduring influence on philosophical work on the nature of law and its relation to morality. Raz begins by presenting an analysis of the concept of authority and what is involved in law's claim to moral authority. He then develops a detailed explanation of the nature of law and legal systems, presenting a seminal argument for legal positivism. Within this framework Raz then examines the areas of legal thought that have been viewed as impregnated with moral values - namely the social functions of law, the ideal of the rule of law, and the adjudicative role of the courts.

The final part of the book is given to understanding the proper moral attitude of a citizen towards the law. Raz examines whether the citizen is under a moral obligation to obey the law and whether there is a right to dissent. Two appendices, added for the revised edition, develop Raz's views on the nature of law, offering a further dialogue with the work of Hans Kelsen, and a reply to Robert Alexy's criticisms of legal positivism.

This revised edition makes accessible one of the classic works of modern legal philosophy, and represents an ideal companion to Raz's new collection, Between Authority and Interpretation.

Readership: Advanced students and academics in philosophy and in law