Communities of scholars and communities of practice

DOIhttp://doi.org/10.1111/jols.12276
Published date01 March 2021
Date01 March 2021
DOI: ./j ols.
ARTICLE
Communities of scholars and communities
of practice
LYNN MATHER
University at Buffalo School of Law, John
Lord O’Brian Hall, Buffalo, NY
-, USA
Correspondingauthor
LynnMather, University at Buffalo School
ofLaw, John Lord O’Brian Hall, Buffalo,
NY-, USA
Author’smail address:  Basin Front
Drive,Newbury, MA , USA
Email:lmather@buffalo.edu
Abstract
This article is a contribution to the occasional series
dealing with a major book that has influenced the
author.Previous contributors include Stewart Macaulay,
John Griffith, William Twining, Carol Harlow,
Geoffrey Bindman, Harry Arthurs, André-Jean Arnaud,
Alan Hunt, Michael Adler, Lawrence O. Gostin, John
P. Heinz, Roger Brownsword, Roger Cotterrell, Nicola
Lacey, Carol J. Greenhouse, David Garland, Peter
Fitzpatrick, and David Nelken.
1 AN UNUSUAL CHOICE
After contemplating this article for months, my list of candidates for an influential book got longer
rather than shorter. I then zeroed in on one book that socio-legal readers will see as a rather
bizarre, unusual choice. Nevertheless, please bear with me as I explain how it indirectly affected
my thinking, especially early on. A  book on the history and philosophy of science, focusing
primarily on physics, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn became a sen-
sation worldwide.Kuhn’s book – hereafter, Structure – has sold well over a million copies and
has been translated into over  languages.The publisher’s blurb for the book’sth anniversary
edition asserts:
A good book may have the power to change the way we see the world, but a great
book actually becomes part of our daily consciousness, pervading our thinking to the
pointthatwetakeitforgranted,andweforgethowprovocativeandchallengingits
©  The Author.Journal of Law and Society ©  Cardiff University Law School
T. Kuhn,The Structure of Scientific Revolutions ().
Email (,  November) from Charles T. Myers, Executive Editor at the University of Chicago Press, publisher of all
four editions of Kuhn’s book.
J. Law Soc. ;:–. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jols 25

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT