Grotius And Law

The essays collected for this volume represent the best scholarly literature on Hugo Grotius available in the English language. In the English speaking world Grotius is not as well known as his fellow 17th century political philosophers, Thomas Hobbes or John Locke, but in legal theory Grotius is at least as important. Even on central political concepts such as liberty and property, Grotius has important views that should be explored by anyone working in legal and political philosophy. And Grotius‘s work, especially De Jure Belli ac Pacis, is much more important in international law and the laws of war than anyone else‘s work in the 17th or 18th centuries. This volume is therefore useful not only to Grotius scholars, but also to anyone interested in historical and modern debates on key issues in political and legal philosophy more broadly, and international law in particular.

The essays collected for this volume represent the best scholarly literature on Hugo Grotius available in the English language. The focus is on Grotius' contribution to political concepts such as liberty and property and to issues in international law and the laws of war. Grotius's work, especially De Jure Belli ac Pacis, is as important as that of other 17th- or 18th-century philosophers and this volume is essential for anyone interested in historical and modern debates on key issues in political and legal philosophy more broadly, and international law in particular.

The essays collected for this volume represent the best scholarly literature on Hugo Grotius available in the English language. In the English speaking world Grotius is not as well known as his fellow 17th century political philosophers, Thomas Hobbes or John Locke, but in legal theory Grotius is at least as important. Even on central political concepts such as liberty and property, Grotius has important views that should be explored by anyone working in legal and political philosophy. And Grotius‘s work, especially De Jure Belli ac Pacis, is much more important in international law and the laws of war than anyone else‘s work in the 17th or 18th centuries. This volume is therefore useful not only to Grotius scholars, but also to anyone interested in historical and modern debates on key issues in political and legal philosophy more broadly, and international law in particular.

According to democratic theory the state is for man not man for the state. This theory has been implemented by bills of rights in many national constitutions giving the individual a legal opportunity to redress abuses by his state. In Federal Consti tutions, however, difficulties have been faced when central au thority seeks to enforce the standards of the constitution against the legislation and customs of the constituent states. The latter habitually resist, proclaiming the virtues of horne rule and local self-govemment, also supported by democratic theory. Thus the opposition of man versus the state develops into a double op position of man versus the state and the state versus the super state. To what extent should the super-state take the part of man demanding respect for human rights, or of the state demand ing self-govemment, when the two conflict? The failure to solve this problem precipitated the American Civil War and continues to agitate American politics. Should the human right of equal educational opportunities prevail over the "State's Right" of autonomy in the organization of its schools? The same problem appears in more virulent form in the efforts of the United Nations to "promote respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion" without "intervening in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state.

While the works of Hugo Grotius (1583-1645) have long been held in high esteem by international lawyers, this book addresses the broader, and neglected, theme of his contribution to the theoretical and practical aspects of international relations. It critically reappraises Grotius' thought, examining it in relation to his predecessors and in the context of the wars and controversies of his time, and assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the `Grotian' tradition of thought - one which accepts the sovereignty of states but at the same time stresses the existence of shared values and the necessity of rules.

Despite its significant influence on international law, international relations, natural law and political thought in general, Grotius's Law of War and Peace has been virtually unavailable for many decades. Stephen Neff's edited and annotated version of the text rectifies this situation. Containing the substantive portion of the classic text, but shorn of extraneous material, this edited and annotated edition of one of the classic works of Western legal and political thought is intended for students and teachers in four primary areas: history of international law, history of political thought, history of international relations and history of philosophy.

This book offers a new interpretation of the foundations of Hugo Grotius' highly influential doctrine of natural law and natural rights.