A Vision of American Law: Judging Law, Literature, and the Stories We Tell

Table of contents

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• Title Page iii
• Contents vii
• Abbreviations ix
• Preface xi
• Acknowledgments xiii
• Introduction 1
• Part I The Law in Society: Elemental Forces 9
• Chapter I the Individual in Society: Individual Autonomy and State Power 11
• Chapter 2 Private Codes: Rules of the Community 31
• Part II Systemic Problems: Violence, Authority, and the American Dream 53
• Chapter 3 the Roots of Violence: the Breakdown of Social Structure 55
• Chapter 4 Shaking the Foundations: Problems of Legal Authority 78
• Chapter 5 the State of the American Dream: Optimism, Progress, and the Word of Law 97
• Part III The Judicial Role in Cultural Revitalization 117
• Chapter 6 Taking Responsibility: Societal Change and Judicial Decision Making 119
• Chapter 7 Synthesis: Justice in Our Time 147

• Title Page iii
• Contents vii
• Abbreviations ix
• Preface xi
• Acknowledgments xiii
• Introduction 1
• Part I The Law in Society: Elemental Forces 9
• Chapter I the Individual in Society: Individual Autonomy and State Power 11
• Chapter 2 Private Codes: Rules of the Community 31
• Part II Systemic Problems: Violence, Authority, and the American Dream 53
• Chapter 3 the Roots of Violence: the Breakdown of Social Structure 55
• Chapter 4 Shaking the Foundations: Problems of Legal Authority 78
• Chapter 5 the State of the American Dream: Optimism, Progress, and the Word of Law 97
• Part III The Judicial Role in Cultural Revitalization 117
• Chapter 6 Taking Responsibility: Societal Change and Judicial Decision Making 119
• Chapter 7 Synthesis: Justice in Our Time 147
• Chapter 8 Conclusion 158
• Notes 161
• Selected Bibliography 175
• Index 179