The Oldest Social Science?

Configurations of Law and Modernity

Timothy Murphy

Clarendon Press

Oxford Socio-Legal Studies

The author has been the General Editor of the Modern Law Review since 1995

The Oldest Social Science?

Configurations of Law and Modernity

Timothy Murphy

Clarendon Press

Description

This book looks critically at some of the underlying assumptions which shape our current understanding of the role and purpose of law and society. It focuses on adjudication as a social practice and as a set of governmental techniques. From this vantage point, it explores how the relationship between law, government and society has changed in the course of history in significant ways. At the centre of the argument is the elaboration of the notion of `adjudicative government'. From this perspective it is argued that the relationship between law and society must be conceived in a different way in the era of economics, sociology and statistics. The impact of these disciplines both constitutes `modernity' and unfolds a different role for law. The author argues that the traditional vision of the role of law, rooted in a complex set of hierarchical assumptions, is no longer adequate.

The Oldest Social Science?

Configurations of Law and Modernity

Timothy Murphy

Clarendon Press

Oxford Socio-Legal Studies

Preface
1: The Measure of the Law: Society, Government and Law
2: Legal Visions of Law and Society: the Penetrative Scheme and Classical Social Theory
3: The Rise and Fall of Adjudicative Government: Its Nature, Evolution and Consequences
4: Adjudicative Government and Social Science
5: Beyond Hierarchy? System and Lifeworld, Unity and Fragmentation of the Idea of Law
6: Conclusion: Modern Law and Modern Society

The Oldest Social Science?

Configurations of Law and Modernity

Timothy Murphy

Clarendon Press

Oxford Socio-Legal Studies

Author Information

Timothy Murphy, Reader in Law, London School of Economics

The Oldest Social Science?

Configurations of Law and Modernity

Timothy Murphy

Clarendon Press

Oxford Socio-Legal Studies

Reviews and Awards

extremely rich in weaving histories and theories of ideas and practices together./ Peter Wagner, University of Warwick, Social and Legal Studies, Vol 8, no 2. -

a remarkable performance - rich in learning, teaming with IapercusI, blessed with set-piece analyses... of ... surpassing beauty.../ Arthur J. Jacobson, Professor of Litigation and Advocacy, Yeshiva University, New York, Jrnl of Law and Society, Vol 26, no 2 , June 1999 -