This book investigates the dynamic intertwinement of law and morality, with a focus on new and developing fields of law. Taking as its starting point the debates and mutual misunderstandings between proponents of different philosophical traditions, it argues that this theoretical pluralism is better explained once law is accepted as an essentially ambiguous concept. Continuing on, the book develops a robust theory of law that increases our grasp on global legal pluralism and the dynamics of law. This theory of legal interactionism, inspired by the work of Lon Fuller and Philip Selznick, also helps us to understand apparent anomalies of modern law, such as international law, the law of the European Convention on Human Rights and horizontal interactive legislation. In an ecumenical approach, legal interactionism does justice to the valuable core of truth in natural law and legal positivism. Shedding new light on familiar debates between authors such as Fuller, Hart and Dworkin, this book is of value to academics and students interested in legal theory, jurisprudence, legal sociology and moral philosophy.

This book investigates the dynamic intertwinement of law and morality, with a focus on new and developing fields of law. Taking as its starting point the debates and mutual misunderstandings between proponents of different philosophical traditions, it argues that this theoretical pluralism is better explained once law is accepted as an essentially ambiguous concept. Continuing on, the book develops a robust theory of law that increases our grasp on global legal pluralism and the dynamics of law. This theory of legal interactionism, inspired by the work of Lon Fuller and Philip Selznick, also helps us to understand apparent anomalies of modern law, such as international law, the law of the European Convention on Human Rights and horizontal interactive legislation. In an ecumenical approach, legal interactionism does justice to the valuable core of truth in natural law and legal positivism. Shedding new light on familiar debates between authors such as Fuller, Hart and Dworkin, this book is of value to academics and students interested in legal theory, jurisprudence, legal sociology and moral philosophy.

Robert Heeger has been professor of ethics at Utrecht University since 1977, both at the Faculty of Theology and at the Faculty of Philosophy. Since 1985, he has also been teaching at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Before he came to Utrecht, he bad worked at Uppsala University for many years. He has always stayed in close contact with bis Swedish colleagues, and twice he was a visiting professor at Uppsala University. With bis eastern-German background, bis roots partly in Russia, bis thesis on the Italian philosopher Gramsei and bis interest in Anglo-American analytical philosophy he has a broad international orientation. It is no wonder, therefore, that he always feit much at home in the Societas Ethica, the European Society for Research in Ethics, which he served as its president from 1991 to 1995. Robert Heeger is primarily a teacher and excels as a discussion partner. With bis sharp analytical mind and bis great intellectual curiosity he not only exposes critically the weak points in an argument, but often also brings up creative suggestions to improve it. Thus he has greatly influenced bis many students (he co-supervised fourteen doctoral theses) and bis colleagues, bothin the Netherlands and abroad. Moreover, he was one of the first moral philosophers in the Netherlands, and even in Europe, to be involved in environmental ethics and in animal and veterinary ethics.

Robert Heeger has been professor of ethics at Utrecht University since 1977, both at the Faculty of Theology and at the Faculty of Philosophy. Since 1985, he has also been teaching at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Before he came to Utrecht, he had worked at Uppsala University for many years. He has always stayed in close contact with his Swedish colleagues, and twice he was a visiting professor at Uppsala University. With his eastern-German background, his roots partly in Russia, his thesis on the Italian philosopher Gramsci and his interest in Anglo-American analytical philosophy he has a broad international orientation. It is no wonder, therefore, that he always felt much at home in the Societas Ethica, the European Society for Research in Ethics, which he served as its president from 1991 to 1995. Robert Heeger is primarily a teacher and excels as a discussion partner. With his sharp analytical mind and his great intellectual curiosity he not only exposes critically the weak. points in an argument, but often also brings up creative suggestions to improve it. Thus he has greatly influenced his many students (he co-supervised fourteen doctoral theses) and his colleagues, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Moreover, he was one of the first moral philosophers in the Netherlands, and even in Europe, to be involved in environmental ethics and in animal and veterinary ethics.

Robert Heeger has been professor of ethics at Utrecht University since 1977, both at the Faculty of Theology and at the Faculty of Philosophy. Since 1985, he has also been teaching at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Before he came to Utrecht, he had worked at Uppsala University for many years. He has always stayed in close contact with his Swedish colleagues, and twice he was a visiting professor at Uppsala University. With his eastern-German background, his roots partly in Russia, his thesis on the Italian philosopher Gramsci and his interest in Anglo-American analytical philosophy he has a broad international orientation. It is no wonder, therefore, that he always felt much at home in the Societas Ethica, the European Society for Research in Ethics, which he served as its president from 1991 to 1995. Robert Heeger is primarily a teacher and excels as a discussion partner. With his sharp analytical mind and his great intellectual curiosity he not only exposes critically the weak. points in an argument, but often also brings up creative suggestions to improve it. Thus he has greatly influenced his many students (he co-supervised fourteen doctoral theses) and his colleagues, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Moreover, he was one of the first moral philosophers in the Netherlands, and even in Europe, to be involved in environmental ethics and in animal and veterinary ethics.

Ideals are important in social reality, but they have been neglected in theories of law, politics, and morality. This book has the role of ideals as its central theme. More specifically, it argues that ideals are necessary to understand pluralism, that they are key elements in controversy and debate, and that they enable development. It combines theoretical analysis of the concept of ideals with discussion of concrete debates and cases, including philosophical debates about politics and equality, sociological studies of the diverse interpretations of the rule of law, and accounts of the development of environmental law and privacy law. Thus, the functioning of ideals is critically examined, showing the merits and limitations of an ideal-oriented approach.