Prescriptive Legal Positivism

<p>Tom Campbell is well known for his distinctive contributions to legal and political philosophy over three decades. In emphasizing the moral and political importance of taking a positivist approach to law and rights he has challenged current academic orthodoxies and made a powerful case for regaining and retaining democratic control over the content and development of human rights.</p><p>This collection of his essays reaches back to his pioneering work on socialist rights in the 1980s and forward from his seminal book<em> The Legal Theory of Ethical Positivism</em> (1996). An introductory essay provides an historical overview of Professor Campbell's work and argues for the continuing importance of 'democratic positivism' at a time when it is again becoming clear that courts are ineffective protectors of human rights.</p>