Jurisprudence is aimed at students new to the study of legal philosophy, while also offering new ideas and perspectives that will be of interest to established scholars. The author seeks to explain the often complex and difficult ideas in jurisprudence clearly, but in a way that avoids distortion of the ideas through oversimplification. As well as introducing the reader to the fundamental themes in legal philosophy, it also describes and comments critically on the writing of the foremost legal theorists. The eighth edition expands and brings up to date the material in this popular text. "To every topic Brian Bix brings a sharp and discerning intelligence, pointing out weakness as well as strengths in the various approaches. For an overview of jurisprudence that is insightful as well as clear, critical but also generous in its assessments, one can't do better than this book." -- Robert W. Gordon, Stanford Law School.