Jurisprudence

Notes

Cases
Resources
Introduction to Jurisprudence

This note explores the meaning of jurisprudence, the questions jurisprudence concerns itself with, and the schools of jurisprudence.

Legal Positivism

This note will provide an overview of legal positivism as one of the schools of jurisprudence. The note, while recognising that key proponents of legal positivism have varying conceptions of the nature of law and other jurisprudential inquiries, will attempt to discuss legal positivism in general terms.

Bentham’s Contributions to Legal Positivism

This note will discuss the contributions made by Jeremy Bentham to legal positivism. The discussion below is largely derived from Bentham’s work titled Of Laws in General, published in 1970 and edited by H.L.A. Hart.

Austin’s Contributions to Legal Positivism

This note will discuss the contributions made by John Austin to legal positivism. These contributions are usually held to be similar to Bentham’s contributions to jurisprudence. The discussion below is largely derived from Austin’s work, titled, Austin: The Province of Jurisprudence Determined .