The Mysterious Science of the Law

Referred to as the "bible of American lawyers," Blackstone's "Commentaries" on the Laws of England shaped the principles of law in both England and America when its first volume appeared in 1765. For the next century that law remained what Blackstone made of it. Daniel J. Boorstin examines why "Commentaries" became the knowledge that any lawyer needed to acquire. Set against the intellectual values of the 18th century and the notions of reason, nature, and the sublime, "Commentaries" is fitted into its social setting. Boorstin has provided an intellectual history of the time, illustrating the elegance, social values and internal contradictions of the Age of Reason.

ISBN	0226064980	Pages	274
ISBN13	9780226064987 (What's this?)	Volumes	1
Publisher	The University of Chicago Press	Weight (grammes)	338
Imprint	University of Chicago Press	Published in	Chicago, IL
Format	Paperback	Height (mm)	216
Publication date	06 Jun 1996	Width (mm)	139
Library of Congress	KD640.Z9B6	Spine width (mm)	15
DEWEY	344.2	Academic level	Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Professional / Scholarly
DEWEY edition	DC20

	Foreword
	Preface
	Introduction	3
I	The Law: Science and Mystery	11
II	The Use of History	31
III	The Tendency of History	62
IV	The Use of Aesthetics	85
V	The Limits of Reason	109
VI	The Methods of Reason	120
VII	Humanity	139
VIII	Liberty	154
IX	Property	167
	Conclusion: The Advantage of Being a Reasonable Creature	187
	Notes	195
	A Layman's Glossary	239
	Index	245

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An Essay on Blackstone's Commentaries

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