Introduction: The Emergence of Postmodernism in Legal Studies 1
1. Understanding Postmodernism Generally 7
Understanding Modernism and Postmodernism 7
The Death of Grand Narratives (Reason, Truth, Self, God, Meaning) 10
A Note on Postmodern Rhetorical Devices 17
2. The Orientation of Postmodern Legal Theory 20
Internal and External Legal Theory 20
Foundationalism and Antifoundationalism 34
Positive and Negative Jurisprudence 38
3. Nietzsche's Theory of Law as a Critique of Natural Law Theory 42
The Basics of Natural Law Theory 44
First Critique: The Illusion of Natural Laws 46
Second Critique: Natural Law as Linguistic Error 50
Third Critique: The Genealogy of Law 52
Does Nietzsche Offer a Positive Jurisprudence? 56
Problems with a Nietzschean Positive Jurisprudence 61
4. Foucault on Law. Modernity as Negative Utopia 65
The Classical Juridical View and Nietzsche's Critique 66
Foucault on Law and Discipline 71
Does Foucault Offer a Positive Jurisprudence? 80
Foucault as Negative Utopian and Enlightenment Critic 86
5. Derrida: Borrowing (Illicitly?) from Plato and Kant 87
Derrida on Law and Justice 91
Platonic and Kantian Influences 98
Problems with a Derridean Positive Jurisprudence 102
Toward an Assessment 106
6. Lyotard: Postmodern Gaming and a Plurality of Justices 109
Lyotard on Postmodern Law and Justice 110
Problems with Lyotard's Account of Law and Justice 123
The Lessons of Lyotard's Work 133
7. Rorty's Postmodern Antifoundationalism 134
From Postmodernism to Antifoundationalism 134
Rorty's Antifoundational Pragmatism (on Ethics /Politics /Law) 135
What Would a Rortian Jurisprudence Look Like? 148
What Is Objectionable About Rorty's Pragmatism? 150
Why Rorty Stops Short of a Positive Jurisprudence 154
8. Conclusion: The Benefits and Drawbacks of Postmodern Legal Theory 156
The Insights of Postmodern Legal Theory 156
Two Big Problems: Externality and Lingering Foundationalism 166
The Use of Postmodern Theory in Thinking the Other of the Law 176
NOTES 181
INDEX 221