This book examines the success of Frederick Schauer's efforts to reclaim force as a core
element of a general concept of law by approaching the issue from different legal traditions
and distinct perspectives. In discussing Schauer's main arguments it contributes to answering
the question whether force sanctions and coercion should (or should not) be regarded as
necessary elements of the concept of law and whether legal philosophy should be concerned at
all (or exclusively) with necessary or essential properties.While it was long assumed that
legal norms are essentially defined by their force it was H.L.A. Hart who raised doubts about
whether law and coercion are necessarily connected referring to the empowering or more
generally enabling character exhibited by some legal norms. Prominent scholars following and
refining Hart's argument built an influential case for excluding force as a necessary element
of the concept of law. Most recently however Frederick Schauer has made a strong case to
reaffirm the force of law shedding new light on this essential question. This book collects
important commentaries never before published by prominent legal philosophers evaluating
Schauer's substantive arguments and his claims about jurisprudential methodology.
