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The Opposite Mirrors

An Essay on the Conventionalist Theory of Institutions

  • Book
  • © 1995

Overview

Authors:
  1. Eerik Lagerspetz

    1. University of Jyväskylä, Finland
      University of Turku, Finland

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Part of the book series: Law and Philosophy Library (LAPS, volume 22)

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Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
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  2. Methodological Remarks

    • Eerik Lagerspetz
    Pages 1-29

  3. Game Theory and Mutual Beliefs

    • Eerik Lagerspetz
    Pages 30-50

  4. An Example: Money

    • Eerik Lagerspetz
    Pages 51-59

  5. The Concept of Authority

    • Eerik Lagerspetz
    Pages 60-79

  6. Authority and Coordination

    • Eerik Lagerspetz
    Pages 80-104

  7. The Foundations of Legal Systems

    • Eerik Lagerspetz
    Pages 105-133

  8. Conventionalism and Law

    • Eerik Lagerspetz
    Pages 134-166

  9. Efficacy and Obligation

    • Eerik Lagerspetz
    Pages 167-184

  10. The Role of Force

    • Eerik Lagerspetz
    Pages 185-207

  11. Conclusions

    • Eerik Lagerspetz
    Pages 208-213

  12. Back Matter

    Pages 214-230
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Keywords

About this book

How do social institutions exist? How do they direct our conduct? The Opposite Mirrors defends the thesis that the existence of institutions is a conventional matter. Ultimately they exist because we believe in their existence, and because they play a role in our practical reasoning. Human action necessarily has an unpredictable aspect; human institutions perform an important task by reducing uncertainty in our interactions. The author applies this thesis to the most important institutions: the law and the monetary system. In his analysis he connects many traditional topics of the philosophy of law, social philosophy and the philosophy of social sciences in a new way. He discusses the nature of rules, authority, and power and analyzes the Hobbesian presuppositions which have been dominant in legal theory and in the economic analyses of the state.
The book is written for legal theorists as well as for political and social philosophers, and theoretically oriented social scientists.

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Jyväskylä, Finland

    Eerik Lagerspetz

  • University of Turku, Finland

    Eerik Lagerspetz

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