A Theory of Legal Sentences

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

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2. Mandatory Norms: Principles and Rules

   • Manuel Atienza, Juan Ruiz Manero

   Pages 1-43

3. Power-Conferring Rules

   • Manuel Atienza, Juan Ruiz Manero

   Pages 44-89

4. Permissive Sentences

   • Manuel Atienza, Juan Ruiz Manero

   Pages 90-119

5. Values in the Law

   • Manuel Atienza, Juan Ruiz Manero

   Pages 120-140

6. The Rule of Recognition

   • Manuel Atienza, Juan Ruiz Manero

   Pages 141-161

7. Conclusions

   • Manuel Atienza, Juan Ruiz Manero

   Pages 162-182

8. Back Matter

   Pages 183-194

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Legal statements are, according to the authors, the most basic elements of the law. Nevertheless they must be considered not only as the pieces of a puzzle, but also as the components of a dynamic and highly complex reality: the law of contemporary society. The book presents an analysis of the different types of legal statements (mandatory rules, principles, power-conferring rules, definitions, permissions, values and the rule of recognition) from a threeefold perspective, that is, considering their logical structure, their function in legal reasoning as reasons for action, and their connections with the interests and power relationships among the individuals and the social groups. The result is conceived as a first step in the building of a general theory of law designed not as an isolated discourse but as a decisive element for the dynamization of the legal culture.

• Conceptualist Thesis
• Mandatory Norms
• Non-Peremptory Reasons
• Peremptory Reasons
• Permissive Sentences
• Power-Conferring Rules
• Principles and Rules
• Rule of Recognition
• Types of Principles
• Types of Sentences
• theory of law

• Department of Law, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

  Francisco J. Laporta

• Department of Law, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden

  Aleksander Peczenik

• John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA

  Frederick Schauer

• Universiy of Alicante, Alicante, Spain

  Manuel Atienza, Juan Ruiz Manero

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