ROSS’S CONCEPT OF THE LEGAL CONSCIOUSNESS AND DELIBERATE NORMATIVE CHANGE

Abstract

Deliberate normative change is a vital process in modern legal orders, although it is often perceived as a peripheral aspect in the theory of law. The article analyses the views of Alf Ross on the role of the legal consciousness in explaining deliberate normative change, and develops further some of his insights with an aim of presenting its applicability to researching contemporary legal processes. Although neglected in legal theory, Ross’s conception of deliberate normative change is a significant contribution to understanding and study of legal practice and represents an integral part of his general theory of law, especially in view of his scientific approach to law.

Keywords

• legal consciousness
• deliberate normative change
• alf ross
• normative influence