Law's Task The Tragic Circle of Law, Justice and Human Suffering

'This is a ground-breaking work of erudition, empathy and thinking. Wolcher combines seamlessly analytical and continental philosophy to re-imagine the fundamentals of law and jurisprudence. Law's empire is not founded on reason, utility or need but on human suffering. In forgetting this, law increases suffering while jurisprudence legitimises it by concealing the tragic springs of human action. "Pathei mathos" (learn from suffering) said the Greeks. Law's Task reminds us of the centrality of this insight and shows that despite the attempt to obscure its importance it retains fully its relevance and force. This book proves Wolcher to be the most important, imaginative and critical American legal philosopher.' Costas Douzinas, Birkbeck College, UK