Includes index.

Contents:Introduction:The scope of jurisprudence and legal philosophy -- Problems of the nature of law -- The validity of laws -- Legal positivism the analytical approach:Introduction -- The imperative theory:Jeremy Bentham's theory of law -- Modified positivism -- The pure theory of law-Hans Kelsen general account -- Natural law theories -- Empirical and functional theories:Functionalism and sociology of law -- Sociological jurisprudence -- The sociology of law -- Historical school of jurisprudence: Savigny, Maine -- Legal realism -- The Marxist approach to law -- Dworkin's Right Thesis -- Critical legal studies and gender -- The limits of law -- The judicial process:Reasoning in the law -- Legal concepts -- Punishment:Utilitarianism -- Punishment:Retributivism -- Dispute settlement and justice.