Aspects of legal positivism (1961/1965)

This paper aims to clarify the multiple dimensions encompassed by the concept commonly referred to as “legal positivism.” It distinguishes the various aspects under which legal positivism has been understood and demonstrates how adopting one or another of these aspects gives rise to distinct interpretations of the same term. By accounting for these divergent meanings, the paper seeks to establish a foundation for a more coherent and productive discussion of what remains vital and what has become obsolete in contemporary legal positivism.