The debate between Bentham and classical Common Law theory is philosophically fundamental and has shaped contemporary conceptions of the nature, tasks, and limits of law and adjudication. This book offers a philosophical interpretation of this historical debate. The author draws on the full range of Bentham's published and unpublished writings, and explores the philosophical foundations of Common Law theory especially in the writings of Sir Matthew Hale and David
Hume.

`Scholars have much to thank Professor Postema for, in mapping out so clearly the relationship between Bentham's thoughts on substantive law and procedure, and for placing it so firmly in the context of eighteenth century common law thought. It is rare to find a book which changes the way one thinks about great jurists: this is one such book.'The Cambridge Law Journal