Law and Life. Why Law?

This book is based on the assumption that the world is governed by a widespread field of interconnected laws. In this field man-made laws - legal laws - have to coexist with the laws of nature, the laws of science and the laws of logic. They have to find their place in relation to a certain society. They have to relate to the demands of morality, ethics, custom and trust. They have to follow the laws of language. They have to deal with a variety of professional and esthetic rules. They have to defend their position between art and craft. Finally, and significantly, they have to cope with a host of different ideas about truth.

This book approaches law as a human construct meant to strengthen society as it develops through the ages. Knowledge of the law - legal knowledge - is of doubtful value if it ignores the demands and ideals of society. The same goes for the thinking leading to legal knowledge.

This book focuses on a basic concept. That concept is met if the legal thinking, leading to legal knowledge, reaches the level of an independent, law and society oriented, contemplative discipline. A discipline which is in that sense and to that extent in touch with - cherished or less cherished - parts of given law.

​Peter van Schilfgaarde, Professor of Corporate Law in The Netherlands. Member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences in Amsterdam. Practising lawyer with the Supreme Court of The Netherlands (until 2017). Permanent interest in Legal Philosophy.