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Commentary and interpretation, prohibition of
(800 words)

Both commentary on and the interpretation of law have the power to alter its meaning consciously or unconsciously. The boundaries between both are also fluid: commentaries contain interpretations, and specific interpretations provide commentary on at least an individual case. To that extent, every prohibition of interpretation entails a prohibition of commentary and vice versa. Emphasis on the latter thus prohibits a specific form, namely, the comprehensive interpretation of a law. Early modern prohibitions of comment…

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Brauneder, Wilhelm, “Commentary and interpretation, prohibition of”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_SIM_022433>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20170206



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