Antonio asked:

After writing a dissertation on why we obey the law at university I have become infatuated with this
subject. This constant infatuation has let me to want to write a book. Although I am well aware of the
mainstream theories (e.g. the Consent theory) I would like this book to examine the less well known
theories. For example, I believe that one answer to this question is that it is simply in our self interest
to obey the law.

Despite this desire I have found it difficult to find these kind of sources. I would be eternally grateful to
you if you could provide any suggestions for sources on this whole issue. Many thanks.

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Classical philosophers who hold that it is in our self-interest to obey the law are Hobbes, Locke and
Kant. Recently in this century, John Rawls. This is "contractarianism"and you might want to search for
literature under this heading, because this is not the end of the matter and there is much more
literature on this. However, there is also an issue about how law reflects morality, a specific concern
in the philosophy of law. We only obey the law if we are moral! For this, you might look at the writings
of John Austin and Jeremy Bentham (a couple of centuries ago, but still important) and more recently
H L A Hart and Joseph Raz. Each of these will have references which will lead you to further
research.

Best of luck with the book!

Rachel Browne