MAS Board Member Prof. Joseph Prud’homme on the Roots of American Law

What is the true foundation of American law? In this thought-provoking lecture from ISI’s National Student Honors Conference, Dr. Joseph Prud’homme explores the deeply rooted Anglo-American legal traditions that shaped the American constitutional order.

Defending the jurisprudential insights of Russell Kirk, Dr. Prud’homme makes the case for a legal philosophy that respects historical continuity, moral order, and the wisdom of the common law. Drawing on Kirk’s thought, he critiques modern legal positivism and progressive reinterpretations of the Constitution, arguing instead for a jurisprudence grounded in natural law, tradition, and the enduring principles of Western civilization.

Whether you’re a student of law, history, or political philosophy, this lecture offers a compelling defense of conservative legal thought in an age of judicial activism.