From Plato's Preconceptions to Dewey's Instrumentalism: The Philosophical Bases of Legal Empiricism

Authors

Thomas P. Dugan

Abstract

It is perhaps a truism to state that philosophy has been a catalyst of legal development, but the relation between the two evades precise conceptualization. The relationship becomes more understandable, however, if the legal task is viewed as a microcosm of the total human endeavor, in terms of its goals and methodology. The initial proposition of this paper is that as philosophical developments modify the theoretical construct of human existence, a correlative change occurs within the law.

Recommended Citation

Dugan, Thomas P. (1975) "From Plato's Preconceptions to Dewey's Instrumentalism: The Philosophical Bases of Legal Empiricism," Hofstra Law Review: Vol. 3: Iss. 2, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.law.hofstra.edu/hlr/vol3/iss2/3