Starting from concrete legal issues, Alan Norrie develops a critical vision of law in its relation to morality and socio-historical context. Traced historically, the conflicts he describes can be read today in law's treatment of legality and justice, judgment and responsibility.

Joint winner of the Hart / Socio-Legal Studies Association Book Prize 2006.

Preface, 1 From Law to the Beautiful Soul, Part 1 Legal Antinomies in History, Part 2 Justice and Judgment, Part 3 Law, History and Ethics: The Nature of Critique, Bibliography, Index