historical school

American  

noun

1. a school of economists that arose in Germany in the 19th century in reaction to the principles of the classical economists, and that maintained that the factors making up an economy are variable and develop out of social institutions.

2. Law. the school of jurists who maintain that law is not to be regarded so much as resulting from commands of sovereigns as from historical and social circumstances.

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historical school British  

noun

1. a group of 19th-century German economists who maintained that modern economies evolved from historical institutions

2. the school of jurists maintaining that laws are based on social and historical circumstances rather than made by a sovereign power

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Etymology

Origin of historical school

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

historical school

We may add, here, that the French historical school, which has so worthily inherited the spirit of Montesquieu, has not achieved less in this direction than the older German school.

From Principles Of Political Economy by Lalor, John J. (John Joseph)

Instead of pursuing a pure abstraction, this historical school has confined itself to the knowledge of the life of man and the evolution of society.

From Principles Of Political Economy by Lalor, John J. (John Joseph)

Among other founders of the anthropological or historical school of mythology, De Brosses should not be forgotten.

From Myth, Ritual and Religion — Volume 1 by Lang, Andrew

The contention of the historical school that all law springs up 'naturally', like language, is chimerical.

From The Future of International Law by Oppenheim, L. (Lassa)

If Froude had been appointed twenty years earlier, on the completion of his twelve volumes, he might have made Oxford the great historical school of England.

From The Life of Froude by Paul, Herbert W. (Herbert Woodfield)