A Legal Theory without Law

Ernst-Joachim Mestmäcker reviews Richard Posner's and Friedrich A.von Hayek's legal theories. Both are famous for their contributions to law and economics. They are, however, adversaries in their concepts of law and how it is to be informed by economics. Posner finds the only scientific legal theory in the external (economic) analysis of law. With Friedrich von Hayek the role of rules of conduct and legislation is to be determined by the principles that govern a free and competitive order. There are, contrary to Posner, important contributions from legal scholarship, legal history and comparative law.

Autorentext

Geboren 1926; 1950 Erstes und 1954 Zweites Juristisches Staatsexamen; 1953 Promotion; 1958 Habilitation; Lehrbefugnis für Bürgerliches Recht, Handelsrecht und Wirtschaftsrecht; 1959-63 Professuren für diese Fächer an der Universität des Saarlandes, 1965-69 an der Universität Münster und 1969-78 an der Universität Bielefeld; 1978-94 Wissenschaftliches Mitglied und Direktor am Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches und internationales Privatrecht in Hamburg; seither Emeritus.

Klappentext

Ernst-Joachim Mestmäcker reviews Richard Posner's and Friedrich A.von Hayek's legal theories. Both are famous for their contributions to law and economics. They are, however, adversaries in their concepts of law and how it is to be informed by economics. Posner finds the only scientific legal theory in the external (economic) analysis of law. With Friedrich von Hayek the role of rules of conduct and legislation is to be determined by the principles that govern a free and competitive order. There are, contrary to Posner, important contributions from legal scholarship, legal history and comparative law.