Dean of the College and Sociology Program Present
The Intellectual Property of Nations:
Legal Culture and Social Change
Friday, December 2, 2016
Olin Humanities, Room 102
1:30 pm EST/GMT-5
1:30 pm EST/GMT-5
Laura R. Ford
Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology
Bard College
Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology
Bard College
Intellectual property – a legal category that currently encompasses patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and other closely-related, knowledge-based forms of intangible property – has become pervasive in everyday life and in our modern economies. This development raises two closely-related questions. First, how did a form of property that has not always existed emerge? And second, how has this new form of property come to play such an important role in our society? In other words, how do we explain the emergence and influence of intellectual property?
In this presentation I will discuss a core finding of my research, which is that intellectual property emerged in the 18th Century, as part of the modern nation-state. I will also introduce the thesis of Semantic Legal Ordering, which is a theoretical paradigm for explaining how legal culture contributes to social change. The paradigm is rooted in Max Weber’s theory of law as a meaningful Order, and it emphasizes the close connections between law and religion. It is also a causal theory about the ways in which legal culture influences social structures. I will seek to persuade you that the thesis of Semantic Legal Ordering helps to explain how intellectual property emerged, and why this new type of property is exercising such a pervasive influence in our society.
In this presentation I will discuss a core finding of my research, which is that intellectual property emerged in the 18th Century, as part of the modern nation-state. I will also introduce the thesis of Semantic Legal Ordering, which is a theoretical paradigm for explaining how legal culture contributes to social change. The paradigm is rooted in Max Weber’s theory of law as a meaningful Order, and it emphasizes the close connections between law and religion. It is also a causal theory about the ways in which legal culture influences social structures. I will seek to persuade you that the thesis of Semantic Legal Ordering helps to explain how intellectual property emerged, and why this new type of property is exercising such a pervasive influence in our society.
For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].
Time: 1:30 pm EST/GMT-5
Location: Olin Humanities, Room 102