"Utilitas" in Roman Jurists’ Legal Interpretation

von Joanna Kulawiak-Cyrankowska

262 Seiten, Taschenbuch

Kurzbeschreibung des Verlags

This study offers a comprehensive analysis of utilitas , a central concept in Roman law, and its pivotal role in shaping legal interpretation. Moving beyond its traditional view as a merely pragmatic tool, utilitas is shown to guide legal outcomes that not only address practical needs but also align with broader ethical values of righteousness and justice. It argues that a complete understanding of utilitas in legal reasoning – both in meaning and function – can only be achieved by synthesizing jurisprudential, philosophical, and rhetorical perspectives. Through this interdisciplinary lens the book demonstrates that decisions made utilitatis causa , exceptional in their departure from established legal rules, can only be fully understood through the lens of rhetorical theory of legal interpretation, offering a framework that transcends the limitations of literal interpretation. Contributing to ongoing scholarly discourse in Roman law, legal theory, and philosophy, this study provides fresh insights into a concept that remains central to contemporary discussions of legal interpretation and justice.

• Reihe: Potsdamer Altertumswissenschaftliche Beiträge
• Themen: Geschichte und Archäologie Geschichte Antike
• ISBN: 9783515136686
• Sprache: Englisch
• Erscheinungsdatum: 16.04.2025
• Größe: 24 x 17 cm
• Verlag: Franz Steiner Verlag
• Übersetzung: Dagmara Lata