The First law by Fábio Ulhoa Coelho

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The First law by Fábio Ulhoa Coelho

This book challenges the foundational assumptions of legal theory by tracing the origins of law not to ancient customs or social contracts, but to a historically recent process of positivization. Through a rigorous archaeological and philosophical inquiry, the author redefines the concept of Law, arguing that legal norms are not timeless truths but rhetorical tools shaped by the values of legal communities. Drawing from anthropology, history, and legal philosophy, the book dismantles the myth of customary law among pre-literate societies and critiques the reification of state and legal norms. It proposes a shift in focus—from Law as norm to Law as conflict treatment—and invites readers to reconsider the legitimacy and function of legal systems. The work is intended for scholars and students of legal theory, philosophy of law, and comparative legal traditions. It contributes to ongoing debates about the foundations of legal systems and the historical contingencies that shape how law is understood and practiced today.

Fábio Ulhoa Coelho is born in São Paulo, in July 1959. He is lawyer and Full Professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, an institution by which he obtained the titles of Master, Doctor and “Livre-docente” (Postdoc). He is the author of several legal books in the fields of his specialty - Business Law, Private Law and Philosophy of Law – that have been adopted by the vast majority of Brazilian law colleges. He is one of the most prestigious and well-known Brazilian jurists.
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9783032177865
ISBN 10 3032177863
Title The First law
Author Fábio Ulhoa Coelho
Series Springerbriefs In Law
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Paperback
Publisher Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Year published 2026-02-11
Number of pages 76
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.