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Schools of Jurisprudence

Schools of Jurisprudence

Edited By Ritika Jonwal | Updated on Jul 26, 2024 07:58 AM IST

The Jurisprudence is referred to as the study behind the philosophy of law. Various thinkers and scholars have described it in simpler terms throughout history to better understand the law-making process. The present-day jurisprudence traces its roots back to the 18th century. The present-day jurisprudence mainly revolves around the basic and primary standard of natural law, civil law and the law of nations.

The classification of general jurisprudence is based on the sort of issue that a researcher want to answer best. It is also classified on the basis of schools of thought or jurisprudential hypotheses. The modern-day rationality of law, which deals with general jurisprudence, provides for the law and the legitimate framework in view of the impending political and social setting in which the law operates today.

Schools of Jurisprudence

Jurisprudence can be described as the analysis and study of law. It attempts to answer the reasoning behind the need for law and the law itself. Therefore, it differs from thinker to thinker depending on a particular person's alternative perception of law. It can be divided into five different schools of law, which are discussed in this article below.

Philosophical School

The philosophical school, often known as the moral school, associates legislation with the precise ideas that it is supposed to achieve. It aims to determine the grounds behind the enactment of a given law. This school's most distinguished scholars include:

  • Grotius (1583-1645)

  • Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

  • Hegel (1770-1831)

These theorists believe that law is the consequence of human thinking, and they attribute its origin to human identity. These thinkers reject the notion that law is the arbitrary order of a ruler or the government.

It declined, providing an approach to the fundamental privileges of man and state. These scholars proposed the natural law idea, which introduced the concept of a "social contract." Hobbes used the natural law concept to promote reactionary growth and legitimise business as usual in order to maintain peace and protect people from ongoing chaos.

Historical School

The Historical School of Jurisprudence sees the law as the product of the long-term historical progress of the public in general, beginning with social conventions representing ethical standards, monetary necessities, and its relationship to the general population. It thinks that the law is the outcome of the strength and influence of the past. Individual awareness is essential to the law. The voyage of law begins with the general population since there has never been an individual like a sovereign to make laws. The prominent theorists of this school of law consist of

  • Savigny,

  • Sir Henry

  • Edmund Burke.

Savigny is regarded as the primary figure behind the historical school of jurisprudence. He is credited for introducing the Volksgeist theory. This argument demonstrates that the law is based on ordinary individuals' general freedom. Savingy argues that law evolves alongside the creation of nations and continues with the partition of countries. Along these lines, the law maintains a national character in its recognition of persons.

This school places little emphasis on the relationship between law and the state. In spite of this, it assigns prominence to the social structures charged with the law-making power. Meanwhile, the investigative school presupposes the presence of a well-established legal framework.

Realist School

The Realist school has its roots in American jurisprudence. According to Legal Realism, any court decisions must be in line with upcoming financial concerns as well as strategic and quality inquiries. In the United States of America, there is a Realist School of Law. The Realist School promotes sociological jurisprudence, which asserts that the law is a result of social consequences and situations, and views them as judicial choices.

Two main thinkers of this school of law are:

Oliver Holmes

According to Oliver Holmes, the law is what the courts do, not just what they declare. Oliver emphasises action. According to Holmes, "The life of the law has not been the rationale; it has been involvement."

Karl Llewellyn

Karl supported traditional pragmatist thought. It was his judgement that the outlines that serve as the framework for substantive law are significantly less crucial in the true practice of the law than had previously been assumed.

Sociological School

The sociological school of law is the consequence of combining numerous juristic perspectives. The many kinds of this school regard law as a social wonder. According to the ideas of this school, law is a social ability, an outflow of culture concerned with its members' external relationships. The major scholars of this school include:

  • Montesquieu

  • Auguste Comte

  • Herbert Spencer

  • Duguit

  • Rosco Pound

The current school concentrates on the utilitarian aspect of law rather than its philosophical essence. This school of thinking sees the law as a social structure that is in harmony with the orders and has a direct impact on society. The historical school responded to the final independence of the nineteenth century by emphasising the Volkegeist spirit of the general populace, proving that legislation and the social situation in which it is created are inextricably linked. Before the nineteenth century, the state was not concerned with people's well-being, welfare, or training. With the start of the nineteenth century, the state became more concerned with a wide range of concerns, including almost every aspect of life and welfare, as a result of the negative impact of a free economy and free business. This implied guidance through the law, requiring legal theory to straighten itself to judge social miracles.

Analytical School

The analytical school of jurisprudence is also known as the Austinian school, named for its founder, John Austin. It is also known as the imperative school since it considers legislation to be the sovereign's directive. Austin proposed the idea of this school, while Bentham established the groundwork for its formation. The Analytical School is said to have been written by Jeremy Bentham. In one of Bentham's publications, he disregarded natural law ideas in favour of a logical discussion of the utility rule. Bentham's concentration on censorial jurisprudence indicates how the natural law impact remained significant. As a result, he proposed utility as the governing principle.

The prominent academics of this school of law include:

  • Austin

  • Kelson

  • Salmond

Analytical school of Jurisprudence can be briefly described in the following pointers:

  1. As a research on the rise of civil law.

  2. It examines the relation between the civil law and other types of law.

  3. An analysis of the logic behind a law.

  4. A record of sources of law from the law continues.

  5. Expounding upon the theory of obligation

  6. Tracing back the roots to legal rights and obligations.

Table: Different Schools for Jurisprudence and Scholars

School of Jurisprudence

Key Principle

Scholars

Philosophical School

This school of jurisprudence concerns itself with the connection of law to specific goals which law is intended to achieve.

Grotius, Immanuel Kant, Hegel

Historical School

This school of jurisprudence contends that the law is the result of a lengthy historical advancement of the general public, dating back to its inception from social custom and depicting ethical standards, monetary necessities, and relationships with the general people.

Savigny, Sir Henry Maine, and Edmund Burke

Realist School

This School of Jurisprudence believes that judicial decisions should be made while keeping in view the financial factors and inquiries of strategy and qualities.

Karl Llewellyn

Sociological School

This school of jurisprudence contends that the law is a social capability resulting from human culture's exterior contact with its members.

Montesquieu, Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Duguit , and Rosco Pound

Analytical School

This school of jurisprudence views law as the direction of the sovereign.

Jeremy Bentham, John Austin, Kelson, and Salmond

Case Law

Animal and Environment Legal Defense Fund vs Union of India and others
The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, while dealing with the present case, tried to correlate the standards of economic supportability and condition assurance. As a result, the court, in its infinite wisdom, concluded that if residents are prohibited from fishing, their jobs will undoubtedly suffer. In the alternative, allowing it will pose an impending harm to nature.

As a result, the Hon'ble Supreme Court asked the concerned woods professionals and formed a board to devise a plan to safeguard the earth's resources while also protecting local jobs. The board was entrusted with keeping an eye on the locals and recommending recommendations that would not be harmful to their interests. They were also entrusted with raising awareness among residents about environmental concerns. The inhabitants were prohibited from accessing other regions.

Conclusion

Jurisprudence is an examination of the process of law formation. It investigates the development, application, and requirements of laws. Jurisprudence examines the theories and practices of understanding in relation to law. It carries an explanatory value. Despite numerous schools of law attempting to eliminate flaws in the lawmaking and enacting systems, there is still a need to link the claim of the goal and justification for the law. Furthermore, legislation should be viewed pragmatically rather than theoretically.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is jurisprudence?

Jurisprudence can be described as the analysis and study of law-making processes. It is divided into different schools based on the reasoning propounded by the schools for the law itself.

2. What are the different schools of jurisprudence?

There are five different schools of jurisprudence: philosophical school, historical school, realist school, sociological school, and analytical school.

3. Who is the father of modern-day jurisprudence?

Jeremy Bentham is described as the father of modern-day jurisprudence. John Austin took the help of Bentham’s work and explained it further.

4. Which are some notable scholars of different schools of jurisprudence?

Some notable scholars of different schools of jurisprudence are Savigny, Bentham, John Austin, Locke, Hobbes, and Immanuel Kant.

5. Why the study of jurisprudence around law is necessary?

Jurisprudence helps in understanding the law and different considerations which ought to be kept in mind during the law-making process. This helps in making better and more effective laws. The jurisprudence also answers important questions about the need for law.

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