Ronald Dworkin (born 1931) is a philosopher, especially noted for his contributions to legal, political, and moral philosophy. His theory of law as integrity is one of the leading contemporary views of the nature of law.

Table of contents
1 Biographical Sketch
2 Law as Integrity
3 Theory of Equality
4 Participant in Public Debate
5 Bibliography
6 See also
7 External Links

Biographical Sketch

Ronald Dworkin was born in 1931 in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America. He received a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and another from Oxford University, where Dworkin was a student of Sir Rupert Cross at Magdalen College. Dworkin then attended Harvard Law School at Harvard University and subsequently clerked for Judge Learned Hand of the United States Court of Appeal for the Second Circuit. After working at Sullivan and Cromwell, a prominent law firm in New York City, Dworkin became a Professor of Law at Yale University, where he became the holder of the Wesley N. Hohfeld Chair of Jurisprudence.

In 1969, Dworkin was appointed the Chair of Jurisprudence at the University of Oxford, in which position he succeeded H.L.A. Hart. After retiring from Oxford, Dworkin assumed a Chair at University College in the University of London. For many years, Dworkin has also taught at New York University, where he has led a seminar with his distinguished colleague Thomas Nagel.

Law as Integrity

Dworkin is most famous for his theory of law as integrity, which is given its fullest statement in his book Law's Empire. Dworkin's theory is interpretive. He argues that law is best understood as an interpretation of the political practices of a society. Thus, in deciding a legal case, judges decide in accord with the interpretation of the society's institutions and legal texts that best fits and justifies the society's history and practices.

Theory of Equality

Dworkin has also made important contributions to what is called the equality of what debate. Dworkin argues that equality is best understood as equality of opportunity for welfare.

Participant in Public Debate

Dworkin is also noted for his avid participation in public debates over law and issues of fundamental rights. He has been a frequent contributor to The New York Review of Books

Bibliography

Works by Ronald Dworkin

Works about Ronald Dworkin

  • Stephen Guest, Ronald Dworkin (Stanford: Stanford University Press 1991).

See also

External Links