At the Intersection of Science, Ideology, and Law: Development of Norberto Bobbio’s Conception of Jurisprudence

This article examines the work of one of the 20th century key European legal scholars and, in fact, the second most famous and significant (after Hans Kelsen) 20th century continental positivist and analytical philosopher of law, the Italian intellectual and public figure, Norberto Bobbio (1909—2004). It is noteworthy that, given the magnitude of Bobbio’s figure, his name and views are completely absent from Russian legal literature (where he is known more as a political thinker). This article contributes to filling this gap by offering a reconstruction of the sample of intellectual history in a contemporary context. Moreover, the article takes a unique analytical perspective. Outlining Bobbio’s legal views, it focuses on his conception of jurisprudence (legal science), which is unique both for 20th century legal thought and for classical doctrines of scientific scholarship. The article charts the stages of the development of Bobbio’s conception, analyzes in detail the content of its final (post-positivist) version, and notes its contemporary potential.