The Philosophy of Criminal Law Selected Essays

• Collects in one volume the most influential essays by a major figure in contemporary criminal law theory
• Presents Husak's original and provocative views on the central topics in the philosophy of criminal law, from the justification of punishment to the nature of criminal liability
• Includes a new introduction from the author drawing together his views on criminal law theory, and two previously unpublished essays

This volume collects 17 of Douglas Husak's influential essays in criminal law theory. The essays span Husak's original and provocative contributions to the major topics in the field, including the grounds of criminal liability, the significance of culpability, the role of defences, and the justification of punishment. The volume includes an extended introduction by the author, drawing together the themes of his work and exploring the goals of criminal theory.
Together, the essays present a desert-based analysis of issues in criminal theory that rejects the consequentialist approach more familiar among legal scholars. The foremost concern of these essays is to ensure that the principles and doctrines of the criminal law preserve justice and do not sacrifice individuals for the common welfare. Engagingly written, the essays are accessible to non-specialists and represent an excellent introduction to current issues and debates in the theory of criminal law.

Readership: Academics and advanced students in criminal law, jurisprudence and moral and political philosophy.