Meaning and General Introduction to the Concept of Jurisprudence

Jurisprudence

The term Jurisprudence is derived from two Latin terms i.e. 'Juris' which means Law and 'prudentia' which means knowledge or skill. Thus the term Jurisprudence implies the knowlege or skill of Law.

Jurisprudence as a study of Law is not of a recent origin rather it traces back to the era prior to even 18th Century. In order to understand that how over a period of time law is developed, or how the knowledge about the concept of law has developed, the Study of Jurisprudence is bifurcated among various Schools of thought which were prevalent over  different period of time. 

The schools of thought prevalent before the 18th Century are known as the Ancient Schools of Jurisprudence and schools of thought prevalent after the 18th Century are known as the Modern Schools of Jurisprudence. Each School of Jurisprudence describes about different eminent legal theorists of that time and their theory regarding evolution of Law.

Schools of Jurisprudence:

The different schools of jurisprudence are broadly classified into two groups namely, the Ancient Schools and the Modern Schools of Jurisprudence.

The Ancient Schools of Jurisprudence are:

1. Natural Law School
2. Historical School

The Modern Schools of Jurisprudence are:

1. Analytical School
2. Sociological School
3. Natural Law School (Post Revival)⎈
4. Realist School

⎈ It is important to mention here that the Natural Law School of Jurisprudence is the most Ancient School but it faced a downfall with the emergence of Analytical School of Jurisprudence in the 19th Century. But post Renaissance, in 20th Century, the world witnessed the revival of the Natural Law School again.