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Protestantism and the Rationalization of English Law: A Variation on a Theme by Weber

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2024

Assaf Likhovski
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Abstract

Attending to an underdeveloped lacuna in Weber's sociology of law, this essay examines the relationship between Protestant theology and the emergence of modern, rational legal systems. The essay argues that radical Protestantism inspired demands for the rationalization of English law, and while not successful in bringing about the concrete changes advocated, that central features of Weber's notion of rational legal thought were also central in the theology of the radical Protestants. Examining the legal thought of two groups that appeared during the English Revolution—the Levellers and the Diggers—the essay shows how theology provided these groups with a model for a more predictable law, offered them a source for the norms of their proposed legal system, and motivated the desire for law reform.

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Articles
Information
Law & Society Review , Volume 33 , Issue 2 , 1999 , pp. 365 - 391
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 by The Law and Society Association.

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Footnotes

I am grateful to Reuven S. Avi-Yonah, Aytan Goelman, David S. Katz, Moshe Lissak, Eben Moglen, and Yoram Shachar for their comments on earlier drafts and for their assistance. I also thank four anonymous reviewers of the Review for their excellent suggestions for revision and clarification.

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