Since its first appearance in 1979, this work has established itself as a classic of legal philosophy. This study focuses on current jurisprudential debate between the positivist views of Herbert Hart and the rights thesis of Ronald Dworkin. MacCormick provides a critical analysis of the Dworkin position while also modifying Hart's. It stands firmly on its own as a contribution to an extensive literature. Now available in paperback, and with a new foreword by the author, this popular book will continue to be of use to students and teachers of law, legal theory, and philosophy.About the Author: The late Neil MacCormick, formerly Regius Professor Emeritus of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations in the University of Edinburgh