Abstract
The central topic of this book is Law and Life. In the context of this topic, a number of questions come up, such as: why do we have law? Do we need law? What is the added value of law for life?
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
I use the word “reflective” as a first level of philosophy, close to “contemplation,” not in connection with a specific theory or philosophy, such as the philosophy of Kant or Hegel. The notion of “contemplation” comes forward in Sect. 1.3 in connection with Hannah Arendt’s reference to the vita contemplativa.
- 2.
- 3.
As depicted in Dante, Divina Commedia, Canto I, line 2: una selva oscura.
- 4.
As in Dante, Divina Commedia, Canto 1 line 3. Dante’s ideal was a “World realm” of peace and happiness, guided by an Imperator as the bearer of Roman law. In his search for the “right way” he was guided by Vergil, the symbol of reason.
- 5.
Maurits Cornelius Escher (1898–1972). Images can be found on the Internet. The original is in the Escher Museum in The Hague.
- 6.
See further on “common space” and “common time” Sect. 3.7.
- 7.
Hawking and Mlodinow (2008) and Hawking and Penrose (2015).
- 8.
More on awareness and cohesion in Sect. 3.6.
- 9.
See Nieuwenhuis (2015), p. 201. Original text in Dutch: “In de kleine verhalen van het recht een groot verhaal laten opklinken, dat is de taak van het moderne recht.” A literal translation of this text would be: “To have the small stories of law resound in a big story, that is the task of modern law.”
- 10.
- 11.
The first version of these legends is probably “Perceval ou le Conte du Graal” by Chrétien de Troyes, written around 1180–1190 in old French. See for a later version in German “Parzival” by Wolfram von Eschenbach, referred to in Sect. 5.5.
- 12.
See Barnouw (1914).
- 13.
Also: “The Holy Face of Lucca” (Volto Santo di Lucca). The holy face is a venerated wooden crucifix. According to this medieval legend it was sculpted by Nicodemus, a companion of Jesus, who assisted Joseph of Arimathea in depositing Christ’s body in the tomb. After seven ages the crucifix miraculously entered into an empty boat, which crossed the ocean to arrive on the beach near Lucca, Italy, in the year 742. From there it was in triumph taken to the Cathedral of St. Martin in Lucca. Together with yet another legend, “Tristan and Isolde,” it plays an important role in Morgan (1936), a beautiful novel by Charles Morgan.
- 14.
The Latin stem of “legend” is probably “legenda,” a gerund with the meaning: what should be read.
- 15.
- 16.
Arendt (1998), pp. 7–17.
- 17.
Arendt (1998), p. 7.
- 18.
But we cannot, in Arendt’s view, “make” immaterial goods, like “law.” This follows from a passage in Arendt (1998), p. 188, where Arendt speaks of “…the delusion that we can ‘make’ institutions or laws, for instance, as we make tables and chairs….”
- 19.
Arendt (1998), p. 9.
- 20.
Introduction to Arendt (1998) by Margaret Canovan, p. vii.
- 21.
Arendt (1998), p. 177.
- 22.
- 23.
Arendt (1998), p. 12 ff.
- 24.
In Sect. 1.1.
- 25.
Section 4.3.
References
Arendt H (1998) The human condition, Original edition, 2nd edn. Chicago Press
Barnouw AJ (1914) Beatrijs, a middle Dutch legend. Oxford University Press
Lyotard J-F (1984) The postmodern condition: a report on knowledge, translation from the French, University of Minnesota 1984. First edition in French: La condition postmoderne: rapport sur le savoir, Les Editions de Minuit, 1979
Morgan C (1936) Sparkenbroke. Macmillan and Co, London, edition 1950
Nieuwenhuis H (2015) Een steeds hechter verbond. Europa op weg naar Europa, Uitgeverij Balans, 2015. No translation available
Van Schilfgaarde P (2013) Peter van Schilfgaarde, Recht als human condition. Neth J Leg Philos (NJLP), pp 29–49. No translation available
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
van Schilfgaarde, P. (2019). Law and Life. In: Law and Life. Why Law?. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01848-1_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01848-1_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-01847-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-01848-1
eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)