Human Dignity and the Foundations of International Law

International lawyers have often been interested in the link between their discipline and the foundational issues of jurisprudential method, but little that is systematic has been written on this subject. This book fills the gap by focusing on issues of concept-formation in legal science in general, as well as looking at their application to the specific concerns of international law. In responding to these issues, the author argues that public international law seeks to establish and institutionalize a system of authoritative judgment whereby the conditions by which a community of states can co-exist and co-operate are ensured. A State, in turn, must be understood as ultimately deriving legitimacy from the pursuit of the human dignity of the community it governs, as well as the dignity of those human beings and States affected by its actions in international relations. This argument is in line with a long and now resurgent cosmopolitan tradition in legal and political philosophy. The book shows how this approach is reflected in accepted paradigm cases of international law, such as the United Nations Charter. It then explains how this approach can provide insights into the theoretical foundations of these accepted paradigms, including our understanding of the sources of international law, international legal personality, and the design of global institutions. "...Capps' writing style is clean, measured, and written with obvious passion. He engages the reader in back and forth discussions that stimulate thought-provoking questions....It can be said with certainty that Human Dignity and the Foundations of International Law is a comprehensive, well thought out, and welcome addition to the field of philosophy and the law." Saskatchewan Law Review 2012, Vol. 75