Action And Value in Criminal Law

Study of the philosophical foundations of the criminal law has long been treated as an adjunct to the study of punishment. In this collection of specially commissioned essays, leading philosophers and criminal lawyers from the UK, USA, and Canada break with this tradition. Ranging across such central issues as moral luck, mistake, and mental illness, Action and Value in Criminal Law aims to reorientate the study of criminal law. Whilst retrieving valuable material from traditional criminal law classifications, the contributors break down false associations, reveal hidden truths, and establish new patterns of thought. Their conclusions are sometimes startling and always illuminating, making them essential reading for scholars and advanced students of criminal law and legal and moral philosophy.