rechtsleer

Rechtslehre is a German term that denotes the theory and doctrine of law. It refers to the systematic study of legal norms, their validity, interpretation, and application, and is a core part of the Rechtswissenschaft (legal science) in German-speaking countries. The field encompasses both the formal analysis of law—dogmatics, the conceptual structure of legal systems, and the classification of norms—and the philosophical examination of law, including questions about justice, legitimacy, and the relationship between law and morality.

In practice, Rechtslehre is often divided into subfields such as Rechtsdogmatik, which seeks to articulate and organize legal rules within a given system, and legal philosophy, which reflects on the nature and foundations of law. The term is frequently used in contrast to the actual practice of law (judicial decision-making) or to empirical legal studies; it emphasizes normative reasoning, coherence of the legal system, and how rules are interpreted and applied.

Historically, the field has included diverse currents. Notably, Hans Kelsen’s Reine Rechtslehre (Pure Theory of Law) argued for a science of law focused on a hierarchy of norms and the concept of validity, independent of moral or political considerations. Other traditions in Rechtslehre engage with natural law, legal positivism, hermeneutics, and critical or evaluative approaches to law. Across these strands, the common aim is to understand how legal systems function, how norms are created and justified, and how legal reasoning is conducted.

Today, Rechtslehre remains a foundational element of legal education and scholarship in German-speaking contexts, complementing empirical research and doctrinal case analysis. It is not a code or set of procedural rules, but the theoretical framework that underpins the study and teaching of law.