Autonomy is the central idea of modern practical philosophy. Understood as self-legislation, autonomy seems to require that the validity of norms depends on recognition, namely, that their addressees, being autonomous agents, recognize these norms to be valid. But, how can one be bound by norms whose validity depends on their being recognized as valid by their addressees? The questions of how autonomous morality and, on this basis, the authoritative character of law can be understood present persistent puzzles that have been widely discussed, but still await a satisfactory solution. This book presents an analysis of the idea of autonomy as self-legislation and its consequences for law and morality. The book links the idea of autonomy with the idea of the balancing of normative arguments. It develops a notion of normative arguments as distinct from normative judgments and statements, and it explains claims to correctness and objectivity that are found in normative discourse. Thus, a 'logic of autonomy' emerges, and it is pervasive in normative reasoning. The book connects theses regarding the logic of norms, the structure of balancing, human and fundamental rights, legal validity, legal interpretation, and the relations among legal systems, offering a theory of central elements of normative argumentation, a theory that is undergirded by the mutual relations that exist between and among its parts, as well as through the relations that it bears to other theories. Moreover, it offers an alternative to Kantian notions of autonomy and provides solutions to problems that other theories have not been able to cope with. (Series: Law and Practical Reason - Vol. 5)

The book focuses on Robert Alexy's theory of constitutional rights. Alexy systematically presented the theory in his seminal book "Theorie der Grundrechte" (1985; Engl. translation "Theory of Constitutional Rights, 2002) and continued to develop it in numerous subsequent articles. Arguably still the most influential theory of constitutional rights, it has found widespread academic support, as well as recognition in several constitutional jurisdictions. On the other hand, it has also been the object of considerable criticism. The aim of this book is to outline the central aspects of Alexy's theory as he sees them, and to further develop the principles of constitutional, fundamental, and human rights by applying a constructive criticism of his theory.

The book focuses on Robert Alexy's theory of constitutional rights. Alexy systematically presented the theory in his seminal book "Theorie der Grundrechte" (1985; Engl. translation "Theory of Constitutional Rights, 2002) and continued to develop it in numerous subsequent articles. Arguably still the most influential theory of constitutional rights, it has found widespread academic support, as well as recognition in several constitutional jurisdictions. On the other hand, it has also been the object of considerable criticism. The aim of this book is to outline the central aspects of Alexy's theory as he sees them, and to further develop the principles of constitutional, fundamental, and human rights by applying a constructive criticism of his theory.