抄録
The assumption that the fundamental purpose of socio-legal studies is observing the ‘law’ leads us to three interrelated questions. These questions are the following. What is the ‘law’ to be observed? What perspective should we adopt to observe the ‘law’? What does it mean to observe the ‘law’ as a socio-legal endeavor? There is no unique right answer to each of these questions, and the answer one reaches largely depends upon a particular ‘theory,’ ‘perspective’ and ‘method’ he or she adopts for observing the ‘law.’ It does not mean, however, that meaningful academic dialogue is impossible among those socio-legal scholars who adopt different ‘theories’ or ‘methods’ from one another. Rather, our understanding of the ‘law’ will become richer through the sincere academic dialogue among those who adopt different ‘theories,’ ‘perspectives’ or ‘methods’ from one another.