Book Review: Jurisprudence as Practical Reason:

A Celebration of The Collected Essays of John Finnis

Edited by Mark Sayers and Aladin Rahemtula
Publisher: Supreme Court Library Queensland
Reviewed by Mr Roger Derrington QC

Emeritus Professor John Finnis is an Australian born legal scholar and philosopher. His immense contribution to legal philosophy and natural law, both in Australia and overseas, culminated in the publication of his collected essays by Oxford University Press in 2011.

Jurisprudence as Practical Reason features reviews, articles and reflections on each of the five volumes of those collected essays and provides supplementary insights into the man himself. It is a shared celebration of an exceptional Australian as seen through the eyes of friends, colleagues and former students.   

Contributors include:

• Emeritus Professor John Finnis
• The Honourable Justice J G Santamaria
• The Honourable Justice S Kenny
• Mr Justin Gleeson SC
• The Most Rev A Fisher OP
• Professor Bryan Horrigan
• Dr Mark Sayers
• Dr Raymond Campbell
• Dr Jonathan Crowe

“This book is a rare gem and a tribute to its editors. It is of a unique genre; being a collection of essays assaying a collection of essays. The topic is, as the title indicates, the essays of Emeritus Professor John Finnis whose work has greatly influenced the jurisprudential debates since the last century. Professor Finnis’s essays and writings, including the quintessential work, Natural Law and Natural Rights, have shaped, indeed directed, the discussion of natural law and rights theory now for decades and will do well into the future. This unique work from the Library of the Supreme Court of Queensland consists of a number of essays by prominent lawyers (Judges, academics and practitioners) with each essay considering one of the five volumes of Finnis’s collected works. The essays are not mere summaries of Finnis’s arguments. They are insightful analyses of his writings and theories by persons who were and are well acquainted with Finnis. It is possible to consider the work as an “Introduction to the works of John Finnis” but only in the same way that Peter Birks’ work was misstated by its title “Introduction to the Law of Restitution”.

This is another excellent publication from the Supreme Court Library. It is exceptionally good value at $24.95 and it can be ordered from the library on its website.”

Paperback; 122 pages; $24.95   Order now from the Supreme Court Library

Mr Roger Derrington QC