PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION
This edition is substantially a reprint of the third, which was published in 1910.
J. W. S.
London,
May 1913
About This Book
The text offers a systematic introduction to legal theory, presenting definitions and classifications of law, the purposes and methods of administering justice, and the nature and functions of the state. It examines different kinds of law—civil, international, natural—and analyzes sources and instruments such as legislation, custom, and precedent. It discusses remedies, penalties, and court functions, and considers constitutional and procedural questions alongside theoretical issues like legal obligation, interpretation, and codification. Organized into focused chapters, it aims to establish a scientific foundation for students while remaining accessible to practitioners and readers interested in the principles underlying legal systems.