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

If, with some writers of the historical school, we admit the objections which apply to this method, we seem to be reduced to a hopeless state of uncertainty.

From Social Rights and Duties, Volume I (of 2) Addresses to Ethical Societies by Stephen, Leslie, Sir

Very honorable mention should be made also of W. E. H. Lecky, who belongs to the conscientiously scientific historical school.

From A History of English Literature by Fletcher, Robert Huntington

In varying forms, it has been that of an historical school of thought in the English Church and in its American daughter.

From The Right and Wrong Uses of the Bible by Newton, R. Heber

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)

This assumption, however, has been made quite impossible, not by the historical school, but by the criticism and analysis of economists in the direct line of the Ricardian succession.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 10 "Echinoderma" to "Edward" by Various