It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the individual national churches within the Anglican Communion. The way that such church law is legislated, interpreted and at times adjudicated varies widely among these three bodies of churches. In all three traditions, a canon was originally a rule adopted by a church council; these canons formed the foundation of canon law. In 1934, the Austrian philosopher Hans Kelsen continued the positivist tradition in his book the Pure Theory of Law. Kelsen believed that although law is separate from morality, it is endowed with “normativity”, meaning we ought to obey it.
- But trusts can also be set up for charitable purposes, famous examples being the British Museum or the Rockefeller Foundation.
- The Arthashastra, probably compiled around 100 AD , and the Manusmriti (c. 100–300 AD) were foundational treatises in India, and