Brian Z. Tamanaha, John S. Lehmann University Professor, recently delivered the 2026 Dewey Lecture in the Philosophy of Law at University of Minnesota Law School. The lecture honors the legacy of John Dewey and showcases significant contributions to jurisprudence.
Professor Tamanaha organized his lecture around three core themes. He first examined the enduring tension between idealized visions of law—as a system grounded in reason, justice, and social order—and more skeptical views shaped by how law operates in practice. He then identified five baseline propositions about state law that many legal theorists accept despite broader disagreements. Finally, he showed how this framework can be used to assess the rule of law in the United States and better understand the challenges it faces today.
An internationally recognized scholar in jurisprudence and law and society, Professor Tamanaha has authored twelve books and more than seventy-five articles and book chapters. His latest book, Truth About Natural Law: History, Theory, Consequences, was published in 2026 by Oxford University Press.
The Dewey Lecture series continues to provide a platform for leading scholars to advance discussion on the foundations and future of legal thought. Congratulations to Professor Tamanaha on this distinguished honor and for advancing critical conversations on the nature and future of law.
