Skip to main content

Scandinavian Realism

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of the Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy
  • 456 Accesses

Introduction

The term “Scandinavian realism” was introduced in the 1940s to refer to a group of philosophers and law professors from Sweden, Denmark, and Norway taking their starting point in the philosophy put forward by the Swedish philosopher Axel Hägerström (1868–1939), hence also the use of the term “the Uppsala school of legal thinking” for the movement that comprises the Swedish lawyers Anders Vilhelm Lundstedt (1882–1955), professor of law in the University of Uppsala, and Karl Olivecrona (1897–1980), professor of law in the University of Lund, and the Danish philosopher and lawyer Alf Ross (1899–1979), professor of law in the University of Copenhagen as the most prominent members that are dealt with in this article. Other members of the movement include Ingemar Hedenius (1908–1982), professor of philosophy in the University of Uppsala; Per Olof Ekelöf (1906–1990), professor of law in the University of Uppsala; Tore Strömberg (1912–1993), professor of law in the University of...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

References

Scandinavian Realists

  • Ekelöf PO (1991) Valda skrifter 1942–1990. Iustus Förlag, Uppsala

    Google Scholar 

  • Geiger T (1946) Debat med Uppsala om Moral og Ret. C.W.K. Gleerup, Lund

    Google Scholar 

  • Geiger T (1964) Vorstudien zu einer Soziologie des Rechts (1947), mit einer Einleitung von Paul Trappe. Hermann Luchterhand Verlag GmbH, Neuwied am Rhein und Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Hägerström A (1927) Der römische Obligationsbegriff im Lichte der allgemeinen römischen Rechtsanschauung, Band 1, K. Humanistiska Vetenskapssamfundet i Uppsala Band 23. Almqvist & Wiksells Boktryckeri AB, Uppsala; OttoHarrassowitz, Leipzig 1927, Band 2, Über die Verbalobligation, K. Humanistiska Vetenskapssamfundet i Uppsala Band 35, Almquist & Wiksells Bogtryckeri AB, Uppsala 1941 Otto Harrassowitz, Leipzig 1941

    Google Scholar 

  • Hägerström A (1953) Inquiries into the nature of law and morals (trans: Broad CD, ed: Karl Olivecrona K). Humanistiska Vetenskapssamfundet i Uppsala Band 40. Almquist & Wiksells Boktryckeri AB, Uppsala, Otto Harrassowitz, Leipzig

    Google Scholar 

  • Hägerström A (1929) Selbstdarstellung in Die Philosophie der Gegenwart in Selbsdarstellungen, Hrsg. Raymund Schmidt, Band 7. Verlag von Feliz Meiner in Leipzig, pp 111–159. Translated into English by Robert T. Sandin and published in Philosophy and Religion, George Allen & Unwin Ltd, London 1964, pp 33–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Hägerström A (1987) Om moraliska föreställningars sanning (1911), in Axel Hägerström, Moralfilosofins Grundläggning, edt. Thomas Mautner, K. Humanistiska Vetenskapssamfundet i Uppsala Band 46. Uppsala University, Uppsala, pp 27–50. Translated into English by Robert T. Sandin and published in Philosophy and Religion, George Allen & Unwin Ltd., London 1964, pp 77–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedenius I (1941) Om rätt och moral. Tidens Förlag, Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundstedt AV (1925) Superstition or rationality in action for peace. Longmann, Green, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundstedt AV (1932) Die Unwissenschaftlichkeit der Rechtswissenschaft, Band 1, Die falschen Vorstellungenr von objekivem Recht und subjektiven Rechte, Dr. Walther Rotschild, Berlin-Grunewald, Band 2, Strafrecht- Vertragsrecht-Deliktische Haftung. Verlag für Staatswissenschaften und Geschichte GmbH, Berlin und Leipzig 1936

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundstedt AV (1956) Legal thinking revised. Almquist & Wiksell Boktryckeri AB, Uppsala

    Google Scholar 

  • Olivecrona K (1939) Law as fact. Humphrey Milford, London. Einar Munksgaard, Copenhagen 1939

    Google Scholar 

  • Olivecrona K (1940) Om Lagen och Staten, Lund, übersetz E. Blauert als Gesetz und Staat. Einar Munksgaard, Kopenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  • Olivecrona K (1951) Realism and idealism: some reflections on the cardinal point in legal philosophy. NY Univ Law Rev 26:120–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Olivecrona K (1971) Law as fact, 2nd edn. Steven & Sons, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross A (1929) Theorie der Rechtsquellen. Franz Deuticke Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Wien und Leipzig. Neudruck Scientia Verlag, Aalen 1989

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross A (1933) Kritik der sogenannten praktischen Erkenntnis. Zugleich Prolegomena zu einer Kritik der Rechtswissenschaft. Levin & Munksgaard, Kopenhagen, Felix Meiner, Leipzig 1933

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross A (1934) Virkelighed og Gyldighed i Retslæren. En Kritik af den teoretiske Retsvidenskabs Grundbegreber, Levin & Munksgaard, København

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross A (1946) Towards a realistic jurisprudence. A criticism of the dualism in law. Einar Munksgaard, Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross A (1951) Tû-Tû, Festskrift til Henry Ussing. Nyt Nordisk Forlag Atrnold Busck, København, pp 468–484. Translated into English as Tû- Tû, Harvard Law Rev 70:812–825 (1956–57)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross A (1953) Om Ret og Retfærdighed. En indførelse i den analytiske retsfilosofi. Nyt Nordisk Forlag Arnold Busck, København. Translated into English by Margaret Dutton as On Law and Justice, Steven & Sons Ltd., London 1958

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross A (1961) Validity and the conflict between legal positivism and natural law. Revista Juridica de Buenos Aires. Reprinted in Paulson SL, Paulson BL (eds) (1998) Normativity and norms. Clarendon Press, Oxford, pp 147–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross A (1968) Directives and norms (trans: Brian Loar). Routledge & Kegan Paul, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Strömberg T (1984) Norms of competence in Scandinavian jurisprudence. Scand Stud Law 28:151–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Strömberg T (1989) Rättsfilosofins Historia i Huvuddrag. Studentlitteratur, Lund

    Google Scholar 

Accounts and Critique of Scandinavian Realism

  • Almé AL. The “Uppsala School” in Sweden, pp 323–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Bindreiter U (2013) The realist Hans Kelsen. In: Duarte d’Almeida L, Gardner J, Green L (eds) Kelsen visited. Hart Publishing, Oxford/Portland, pp 101–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjarup J (1978) Skandinavischer Realismus. Hägerström-Lunfdstedt-Olivecrona-Ross. Verlag Karl Alber, Freiburg/München

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjarup J (1986) Legal realism or Kelsen versus Hägerström. In: Kamenka E, Summers RS, Twining WL (eds) Soziologische Jurisprudenz und realistische Theorien des Rechts. Rechtstheorie Beiheft 9. Berlin, pp 243–257

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjarup J (2005) The philosophy of Scandinavian legal realism. Ratio Juris 18:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bjarup J (2006) Scepticism and Scandinavian legal realism. In: Endicott T, Getzler J, Peel E (eds) Properties of law. Essays in honour of Jim Harris. Oxford University, Oxford, pp 52–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjarup J (2012) Sense and nonsense about John Austin’s jurisprudence from a Scandinavian perspective. In: Freeman M, Mindus P (eds) The legacy of John Austin’s jurisprudence. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 107–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjarup J (2013) Kelsen and Hägerström. Clearing up misunderstandings and mapping out the common ground. In: Duarte d’Almeida L, Gardner J, Green L (eds) Kelsen visited. Hart Publishing, Oxford/Portland, pp 163–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Castberg F (1957) Problems of legal philosophy. Oslo University Press, Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  • Castignone S (1986) Punishment and responsibility in Scandinavian legal realism. In: Kamenka E, Summers RS, Twining WL (eds) Soziologische Jurisprudenz und realistische Theorien des Rechts. Rechtstheorie Beiheft 9. Berlin, pp 269–274

    Google Scholar 

  • Cotterrell R (2015) The politics of jurisprudence revisited: a Swedish realist in historical context. Ratio Juris 28:1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eliaeson S, Mindus P, Turner SP (2014) Axel Hägerström and modern social thought. The Bardwell Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Faralli C (1986) Anthropology and history in the study of law: Axel Hägerström Romantic Works, Rechtstheorie, pp 275–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman MDA (ed) (2001) Lloyd’s introduction to jurisprudence, 7th edn. Sweet and Maxwell, London, Ch. 10, pp 855–901

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedmann W (1967) Legal theory, 5th edn. Steven & Sons, London, pp 304–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris JW (1981) Olivecrona on law and language – the search for legal culture. Tidsskrift Rettsvitenskap 94:625–646

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart HLA (1959) Scandinavian realism. Camb Law J. Reprinted in Hart (1983) Essays in jurisprudence and philosophy. Clarendon Press, Oxford, Ch. 6, pp 161–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtermann JVH (2015) Getting real or staying positive: legal realism(s), legal positivism and the prospect of naturalism. Ratio Juris, on line 17 Apr 2015

    Google Scholar 

  • Jørgensen S (1984) Scandinavian legal philosophy: co-report on Scandinavian legal philosophy. Bull Aust Soc Leg Philsophy 8:289–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamenka E, Summers RS, Twining WL (Hrsg) (1986) Soziologische Jurisprudenz und realistische Theorien des Rechts, Rechtstheorie Beiheft 9, Berlin. Papers by Bjarup, Jes, Legal Realism or Kelsen versus Hägerström, pp 243–257

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelsen H (2013) A ‘realistic’ theory of law and the pure theory of law: remarks on Alf Ross’s on law and justice. In: Duarte d’Almeida L, Gardner J, Green L (eds) Kelsen visited. Hart Publishing, Oxford/Portland, Oregon, pp 195–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis JU (1970) Karl Olivecrona: “factual realism” and reasons for obeying a law. Univ Brit Columbia Law Rev 5:281–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd’s Introduction to Jurisprudence (2001) In: Freeman MDA (ed) 7th edn. London, Chapter 10, pp 855–901

    Google Scholar 

  • MacCormack G (1974) Law as fact. Archiv Rechts- Sozialphilosophie 60:393–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Mautner T (2010) Some myth abut realism. Ratio Juris 23:411–427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merrills JG (1969) Law, morals and the psychological nexus. Toronto Law J 19:46–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mindus P (2009) A real mind. The life and work of Axel Hägerström. Springer, Dordrecht

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mindus P (2012) Austin an Scandinavian realism. In: Freeman M, Mindus P (eds) The legacy of John Austin’s jurisprudence. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 73–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Pattaro E (1986) Legal realism or Hägerström along with Hart, some comments on Bjarup. In: Kamenka E, Summers RS, Twining WL (eds) Soziologische Jurisprudenz und realistische Theorien des Rechts. Rechtstheorie Beiheft 9. Berlin, pp 259–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Pattaro E (2009) From Hägerström to Ross and Hasrt. Ratio Juris 22:532–548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pattaro E (2010) I will tell you about Axel Hägerström: his ontology and theory of judgment. Ratio Juris 23:123–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spaak T (2014a) A critical appraisal of Karl Olivecrona’s legal philosophy. Springer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Spaak T (2014b) Alf Ross on the concept of a legal right. Ratio Juris 27:461–476

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spaak T (2015) Realism about the nature of law. Ratio Juris, on line 17 April 2015

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundberg JWF (1986) Scandinavian unrealism. Rechtstheorie 9:305–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Tammelo I (1963) Contemporary developments of the imperative theory of law: a survey and appraisal. Archiv Rechts- Sozialphilosophie 49:255–277

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jes Bjarup .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Section Editor information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this entry

Cite this entry

Bjarup, J. (2017). Scandinavian Realism. In: Sellers, M., Kirste, S. (eds) Encyclopedia of the Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6730-0_28-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6730-0_28-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-6730-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6730-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Law and CriminologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics