The Normativity of Law

08.02.2012

*Part of the lectures series: “Normativity. Frankfurt Perspectives“*

Normativity is the term for a commonplace phenomenon which at the same time defies explanation. What constitutes the force that makes us adhere to social principles, norms and rules? This question have been discussed by the professors Axel Honneth, Rainer Forst and Klaus Günther.

The law enforces and organizes the binding grounds for action which have emerged from the ethical and political orders. This applies, for example, to human rights, whose legal enforcement is a moral imperative. Yet what might constitute an autonomous definition of the normativity of law?

Klaus Günther is professor of legal theory, criminal law and criminal trial law and co-speaker of the Cluster of Excellence “Normative Orders”.

Goethe Universität, Campus Westend | Hörsaalzentrum HZ 3