A Study about Principle and Concept of Law from Discourse of Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya (P.A.Payutto)

Abstract

The study of law in Thai higher education institutions is founded on the study of jurisprudence. However, in recent years, jurisprudence has been increasingly marginalized. Some institutions have made it an elective course, while others have even eliminated it altogether. The content of jurisprudence courses in Thailand typically focuses on Western philosophy, examining the ideas of various thinkers and debating the merits of their theories. Law students often simply memorize these theories just to pass their exams. This article seeks to present the principles and concepts of the law as articulated by the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya (P.A.Payutto), through his Dharma Narratives. These concepts will then be analyzed and compared to Western legal philosophy, opening up a new perspective on the law and providing a foundation for basic legal knowledge.