Includes bibliographical references (p. 271-282) and indexes.

An isomorphic theory of law : a relation of structural similarity between the two fact-constellations compared -- Coherence theory of law : shared congruence among arguments drawn from the institutional and societal sources of law -- "Between the evident and the irrational" : the new rhetoric and legal argumentation theory -- Philosophical pragmatism : law, judged in light of its social effects -- Analytical legal positivism : retracing the original intentions of the legislator under legal exegesis -- Legal realism : the law in action, not the law in books, as the subject matter of legal analysis -- Legal conventionalism : law as an expression of collective intentionality -- "Die Rechtssätze in ihrem systematischen Zusammenhang zu erkennen"--the thrust of legal formalism -- Natural law philosophy : law as subordinate to social justice and political morality in society -- Radical decisionism : social justice on a strictly contextualist basis -- Intermission -- Law and metaphysics.