Rethinking Indian Jurisprudence: An Introduction To The Philosophy Of Law

Description

What is law? What is the source of law? What is the law for? How does law differ from other norms or codes of conduct? What is the difference between law and morality? Who is obligated to follow the law and why? What is the difference between moral and legal obligation?This book addresses these foundational questions about the law in general, and seeks to reorient our thoughts to the specific nature of law in India, the India of today, and the possible India of the future. This volume:covers relevant foundational elements, concepts and questions of the discipline;brings the uniqueness of Indian Philosophy of Law to the fore;critically analyzes the major theories of jurisprudence;examines legal debates on secularism, rationality, religion, rights and caste politics; and presents useful cases and examples, including free speech, equality and reservation, queer law, rape and security, and the ethics of organ donation. Lucid and accessible, the book will be indispensable to students, teachers and scholars of law, philosophy, politics as well as philosophy of law, sociology of law, legal theory and jurisprudence. Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 11 Introduction......Page 12 Part I Elements of the Philosophy of Law......Page 20 1 Law and morality......Page 22 2 Christian sources of secular law......Page 35 3 The cannibal’s guide to jurisprudence......Page 43 4 Law and rationality......Page 57 5 Wronging rights?......Page 67 Part II Towards an Indian Philosophy of Law......Page 80 6 Towards an Indian Philosophy of Law......Page 82 7 From Dharmashastra to Modern Hindu Law......Page 91 8 The persistence of caste......Page 99 9 The politics of Shariat......Page 106 10 Gandhi’s affirmation of law......Page 115 11 Ambedkarite jurisprudence......Page 125 Part III Applying legal philosophy to Indian cases......Page 136 12 Free speech and All India Bakchod......Page 138 13 Equality and reservation......Page 150 14 Queering law......Page 159 15 Rape and security: a Buddhist vantage point......Page 172 16 The ethics of organ donation......Page 181 17 Indian Supreme Court jurisprudence: five exemplary cases......Page 190 Conclusion......Page 199 Bibliography......Page 208 Index......Page 220