Comparative Law: Its Purposes and Possibilities

Comparative law is much more than “matching laws.” Professor Grossfield’s short, lively book will certainly awaken its German reader to the value, indeed necessity, of comparative law and comparative insights in his or her own practice or scholarly work. This, he aims at the skeptic who may think of comparative law or foreign legal systems as arcane and useless fluff, too luxurious for the hard working “practical-minded” practitioner. Professor Grossfield throws the cold water of realization into this skeptic’s face. The message being that considering comparative approaches and theory about similar problems may indeed be as practical as one can get. The English translation will do the same for the Anglo-American reader. More importantly, Professor Grossfield provides the perspective of a deep thinking German scholar on problems relating to the meanings of law, thinking, and being. These may seem abstract philosophy to the reader of this Essay, but Professor Grossfield’s thoughts on these issues provide the keenest insight into how a German scholar approaches the law, legislation, cases, doctrine, philosophy, and life. There is little that is more practical to and American comparative law scholar or an American practitioner who faces problems of continental law and practice from time to time. Grossfield provides the reader with insight into the discipline fo comparative law; but more importantly, he proves the readers of all nationalities with insight into how a German law practitioner and scholar approaches legal problems. This is comparative law. Professor Grossfield intends to, and succeeds, at writing a book about comparative law. He ahs produced of comparative thinking—of comparative law