Law and Nature

by David Delaney

Overview

Exploring the relationship between conceptions of nature and (largely American) legal thought and practice, this study focuses on the politics and pragmatics of "nature talk"—as expressed in extra-legal disputes as well as different forms of legal discourse. Topics include the forces of nature, endangered species, animal experiments and bestiality. David Delaney demonstrates throughout that nearly any analysis of "nature" entails an interpretation of the essence of "humanity."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521831260
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/13/2003
Series:	Cambridge Studies in Law and Society
Pages:	452
Product dimensions:	6.22(w) x 9.29(h) x 1.26(d)

About the Author

David Delaney is Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Law, Jurisprudence and Social Thought at Amherst.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Part I. Situating Nature: 1. Introduction: the pragmatics of nature and the situation of law; 2. The nature of modern political discourse: doing things with nature; 3. The natures of scientific discourse; 4. The natures of legal discourse; 5. The natures of legal practice; Part II. Rendering Nature: 6. It's a slippery slope: law and the forces of nature; 7. Doctrinal wilderness and the path of interpretation: law and wilderness; 8. Wild justice and the endangerment of meaning: law and endangered species; 9. Puka's choice: law and animal experimentation; 10. Fear of falling: law and bestiality; 11. The births of nature and tradition: law and reproductive technologies; 12. Doctrinal mutations at the edge of meaning: law and genetic screening; 13. Return of the beast within: law and biological criminal defenses; 14. Controlling dreams: law and the involuntary medication of prisoners; Part III. Judging Nature: 15. Beyond 'nature': the material life of the legal; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'This is an outstanding book, no doubt the product of a research project of great scope and sustained intellectual inquiry and creativity. With this book, David Delaney makes a significant contribution to the literature on the relationship between law and nature, indeed may even have carved out this area as his own. … eminently readable, he writes beautifully, with a clear purpose (rather than agenda), a light hand and confidence, without cliché, or even predictability.' Journal of Environmental Law

'This is a big book - it has big aims and a big subject matter. … the book's interdisciplinary orientation means that it will appeal strongly to those working in a myriad of disciplines beyond law …'. Journal of Environmental Law

From the Publisher