Private Law and Practical Reason Co-edited by Dr Haris Psarras Published

Private Law and Practical Reason is a collection of essays co-edited by Dr Haris Psarras (Associate Professor of Law) and Professor Sandy Steel (Faculty of Law, University of Oxford).

The collection is in honour of the late Professor John Gardner, leading 21st century analytic philosopher, John Gardner. John was latterly Professor of Jurisprudence at University College from 2000 to 2016 and a Senior Research Fellow of All Souls College from 2016 and who died in 2019.

This edited volume (published in the Oxford Private Law Theory series) brings together private law scholars and legal philosophers from around the world to explore key issues in private law from a theoretical perspective, in dialogue with the work of Gardner. It includes chapters on normative issues that pertain to private law in general, such as the nature of private wrongs or the justification of reparative duties and remedies. It also contains contributions to the philosophical foundations or the doctrine of particular areas of private law, with a special focus on tort. It also covers topics from contract and equity. Many chapters were first presented as papers at a two-day webinar on Gardner’s private law theory in spring 2020.

Commenting on the book's aims, Psarras added, "the aim [is] to continue Gardner’s legacy both through originally expanding on lines of reasoning from his work and through engaging with them critically; thus, we hope it reflects qualities that were typical of Gardner’s innovative spirit and uniquely fruitful intellectual exchanges with colleagues, students and friends. We also hope that it is a stimulating read for academics, students, practitioners and anyone else with an interest in private law, philosophy or their multiple intersections."

The book is available for purchase from Oxford university press.