Introduction
the lever of Jhering’s idea. Little imagination is needed to portray a horrible distortion of social life under the pressure of learning and invention of the last hundred years, operating within the rigid mould of a “laissez faire” theory of law, government, and economics. On this count, and without reference to whatever else he achieved or conceived, Jhering is deservedly entitled to a leading place among the world’s creative jurists.
Of the present work, it may perhaps with considerable justice still be said as was claimed by a competent reviewer on the appearance of the first edition of this translation,[1] that it is “the most brilliant, original, and significant book on the genesis and development of law since Montesquieu”; but it may be asserted with less provocation to challenge that it is one of the most famous specimens of juristic writing that the world has ever seen. The introducer may, however, be permitted to venture two brief comments:
- ↑ Albany Law Journal, xx, 444 (1879).
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