The history of European and Norwegian jurisprudence

The study of the history of jurisprudence has a purpose of its own in relation to legal history. In addition, it is a contribution to a common academic heritage. The history of jurisprudence is one aspect of legal history, which in its turn relates to the history of society in general, as well as to the history of ideas. Research of the history of jurisprudence also aims at giving an historic basis for methodological reflections. Legal method often develops with a reference to history. By combining studies in history and current trends in legal methodology, the studying of the history of jurisprudence can strengthen a methodological discourse. Seeing fundamental legal issues as part of both the narrower legal tradition and of a wider scholarly perspective is fundamental in a critical discourse on methodology.

 

The history of Norwegian jurisprudence demonstrates both national issues and international impulses. The international character of Norwegian jurisprudence began before the nineteenth century and involves all aspects of legal science, encompassing the legal language itself as well as basic themes in scholarly treatment of both civil and public law. Thus, the history of Norwegian jurisprudence illuminated by trends in international legal science will be an important subject for the research group.

 

The Faculty of law in Oslo celebrates its bicentennial anniversary in 2011. The research group will prepare for the bicentennial through studies of the Faculty's history. A separate section under the Faculty of humanities, Forum for universitetshistorie, has the overall responsibility for the anniversary of the University, see http://www.hf.uio.no/forskningsprosjekter/ffu/Organisasjon/enginfo.html. 

 

Current projects:

The Faculty of law and the subject of Property law through 200 years  (Marit Halvorsen)

Roman law ideology in European legal science (Dag Michalsen) 

Published Jan. 21, 2008 1:24 PM - Last modified Nov. 30, 2009 7:38 PM