A book’s path

an analysis of Hermes Lima’s “Introdução à ciência do direito” different editions

Abstract

This article analyzes the different editions of the book Introduction to Legal Science, by the Brazilian jurist Hermes Lima, between the years 1933 to 1960.  The differences between the editions can show the transformations of Hermes Lima’s way of thinking about law and the legal and political changes in that period. To carry out this comparison between the different editions, some aspects were selected, such as: (i) the sociological interpretation of the legal phenomenon; (ii) debates on the role of the State and the law; (iii) the presence of Marxist theory; and (iv) the connections to the Brazilian legal-political context. One cannot consider the different editions the same book because they are very different in form and content. Through the years, there was a pasteurization process. There was a softening of political and sociological debates that could harm the more general aim to craft this introductory guide for law students. Despite having lost part of this originality, perhaps it was precisely this process of adaptation that ensured the longevity of the book.