The Roman-Law Genius of European Identity

Contained within the studies and scholarly articles of Professor Peter Blaho is a wealth of knowledge of Roman law; at the same time, however, they are also imbued with the repeatedly emphasised thesis of the significance of Roman law for the formation of European continental legal culture, as well as for the shaping and character of European civilisational identity: “Three powerful intellectual currents of antiquity fundamentally influenced European culture: Greek philosophy, the Catholic religion, and Roman law.” Yet it is precisely this thesis of Blaho’s work, although central, that somehow remains in the background. The purpose of publishing this volume is to draw the attention of the Slovak legal community to it. Sixteen studies, divided by subject matter into three areas – jurists and the legal profession; concepts, principles, categories – their origin and formation; and, finally, Roman law today – together form a substantively coherent monographic whole. Running through all the chapters of the book is the idea of the permeation of the concepts and ideas of Roman law throughout European history, extending right up to the present day. It repeatedly culminates not only in the above-mentioned thesis identifying Europe, but also in an urgent recommendation to base the harmonisation of European law on the legacy of Roman legal learning.
Author: Peter Blaho