Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Legal positivism
(1,111 words)

1. Definition

The concept of legal positivism describes a current of the philosophy or theory of law that derives the concept and reason for the validity of law purely from its authorized ratification. This formal legal concept is characterized by its neutrality with respect to the substance of law: the quality and validity of a legal norm depends solely on the fact that it has been created in accordance with established legislative rules; i…

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Zwanzger, Michael, “Legal positivism”, 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 02 April 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_026242>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20190801



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