Twining’s Tower and the Challenges of Making Law a Humanistic Discipline

Abstract

This article provides a survey of the life and scholarship of William Twining, focusing largely on his contribution to the broadening of legal education and scholarship. Part I reviews his background, personality and education, then explores the significance of Africa and his anti-colonialism, the inspiration of American legal realism, his teaching in Africa, Belfast, Warwick and UCL, his law reform efforts and his scholarly output. Part II examines his intellectual hallmarks and his struggle to recast law as a humanistic discipline. Part III considers the current efficacy of the notion of law as a humanistic discipline with law schools as purveyors of humanistic education. 
 Keywords: William Twining; legal education; legal biography; intellectual history; colonialism; postcolonialism.