Crime, Reason and History: A Critical Introduction to Criminal Law (Law in Context) - Softcover

Norrie, Alan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0406932468 ISBN 13: 9780406932464

Publisher: Butterworths, 2001

Synopsis

Crime, Reason and History provides an alternative approach to the study of the general principles of criminal law. It emphasises, in contrast to orthodox texts, the tensions and contradictions at the law's heart. The author outlines the themes of responsibility, rationality and justice which govern the orthodox criminal law text. He traces these to the early nineteenth century reform of the criminal law and notes conflicts within reform ideologies relating to the idea of the 'responsible individual'. He then takes the reader through the bulk of the criminal law's 'general part' showing how conflicts from reform ideology emerge within criminal law. An historical and political logic underlies its illogicalities, giving it its 'shape'. The author presents a sceptical critique of the liberal positivist tradition in criminal law scholarship, and a social analysis of both its practical necessity and intellectual impossibility. He shows how the ideology of individual legal justice was imposed as a means of excluding alternative political voices, while recognising its importance for the survival of the liberal polity.

About this title

Book Description

This work provides a challenging approach to the study of criminal law, offering a critical introduction to the law's general principles and, in contrast to orthodox criminal law texts, emphasizes the tensions and contradictions that lie at their heart.

Edition details

• Publisher: Butterworths
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0406932468
• ISBN 13: 9780406932464
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 289