The Passions of Law: 67 (Critical America) - Hardcover

Susan Bandes

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 081471305X ISBN 13: 9780814713051

Publisher: NYU Press, 2000

Synopsis

The Passions of Law is the first anthology to treat the role that emotions play, don't play, and ought to play in the practice and conception of law and justice. Lying at the intersection of law, psychology, and philosophy, this emergent field of law scholarship raises some of the most profound and interesting questions at the heart of jurisprudence. For example, what role do emotions ranging from disgust to compassion play in the decision-making processes of judges, lawyers, juries, and clients? What emotions belong in which legal contexts? Is there a hierarchy of emotions, and, if so, through what sources do we identify it? To what extent are emotions subject to change or tutelage? How can we evaluate the role of emotion in such disparate contexts as death sentencing, laws about same sex marriage, hate crime legislation, punitive damages or shaming penalties?

Consisting of original essays by leading scholars of law, theology, political science, and philosophy, The Passions of Law contributes to ongoing efforts to humanize law and reveals how this previously unacknowledged aspect of decision-making exerts a much greater impact on justice and the practice of law than most tend, or like, to think.

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About this title

Review:

"A fascinating and wide-ranging series on the role that emotion plays in the legal order."

-Jack Balkin

"An exciting intellectual adventure. If that type of voyage interests you, almost any page of this book will be a trip."

-New York Law Journal

"An excellent collection of original essays . . .the current volume shines by being able to introduce these disparate approaches on emotions into a shared discourse."

-The Law and Politics Book Review

"The ostensible polarity between reason and emotion is central to many approaches to law. Susan Bandes offers valuable criticism of this view by noting the important roles that emotion and passion in fact play within the law. She has also brought together an outstanding collection of essays that, by addressing the issue from all perspectives, allows the reader to confront the issue in all of its complexity."

-Sanford Levinson, coeditor of Constitutional Stupidities/Constitutional Tragedies

"This splendid collection of engaging, user-friendly essays reveals in vivid detail how emotions are as much a part of the fabric of law as of the rest of life. Among the verdicts that emerge from these careful explorations is the long-overdue acquittal of passion on the charge of always sabotaging reason and justice."

-Elizabeth V. Spelman, Professor, Smith College, and author of Fruits of Sorrow: Framing Our Attention to Suffering

Synopsis:

An examination of the role that emotions play in the practice and conception of law and justice. Questions include what emotions belong to which legal contexts and how can we evaluate emotions in death sentencing? The text aims to contribute to efforts to humanize the law.

About this edition

• Publisher: NYU Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 081471305X
• ISBN 13: 9780814713051
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 368