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…
Commentary and interpretation, prohibition of(800 words)
Cite this page
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 25 September 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_SIM_022433>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20170206
▲ Back to top ▲