Critical Studies in Private Law

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Thomas Wilhelmsson

   Pages 1-20

3. “General Principles” as the Primary Object of Alternative Studies

   • Thomas Wilhelmsson

   Pages 21-50

4. Goals: New Elements in a Contract Law of the Welfare State

   • Thomas Wilhelmsson

   Pages 51-79

5. On the Juridical Roles of Contract Law

   • Thomas Wilhelmsson

   Pages 80-100

6. The Concrete Legal Material — A Finnish Example

   • Thomas Wilhelmsson

   Pages 101-145

7. Towards Need-Oriented General Principles

   • Thomas Wilhelmsson

   Pages 146-179

8. Social Force Majeure

   • Thomas Wilhelmsson

   Pages 180-216

9. Effects of an Alternative Doctrine

   • Thomas Wilhelmsson

   Pages 217-229

10. Back Matter

    Pages 230-257

    PDF

Critical Studies in Private Law discusses the prerequisites and possibilities for an alternative or critical legal dogmatics. The starting point of the analysis is the recognition of contradictions within the legal order. In this respect the theory may use the experience of both American Critical Legal Studies and the German attempts to formulate a legal theory for the social state. The key for understanding how the contradictory concrete legal material may produce varying results on the level of legal decisions is the systematization, the general principles of the law.
The analysis does not, however, stop at this theoretical level. The methodology is tested through a discussion of some features of modern private law. Some key elements of contract law, including consumer law, of the Welfare State are singled out. The work focuses on the person-orientation of modern law as a challenge to the traditional abstract legal form. The aim is to explore the limits for a contract law radically oriented towards the personal social and economic needs of the parties. This endeavour involves the creation of new legal concepts such as social force majeure.

• dogmatics
• legal order
• legal theory

'....the book is a strikingly original examination of private law, informed by prodigious learning, and the arguments are developed in a persuasive, scholarly fashion. For scholars interested in contract law in particular, this is a book not to be missed at any price.' Journal of Consumer Policy 17 1994

• Department of Private Law, University of Helsinki, Finland

  Thomas Wilhelmsson

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