Direito e Verdade | The First Law - Fábio Ulhoa Coelho #25

The project aims to disseminate the academic production of AGU members and external authors, in a program that addresses the importance and applicability of books, as well as research, the creative process, culture, and education; themes that are fundamental to the School and have a constitutional basis. The authors will be interviewed by João Carlos Souto, author of the project and Director of the AGU Higher School. About the book: This book challenges the foundational assumptions of legal theory by situating the origin of law not in ancient customs or social contracts, but in a historically recent process of positivation. Through rigorous archaeological and philosophical investigation, the author redefines the concept of Law, arguing that legal norms are not timeless truths, but rhetorical instruments shaped by the values ​​of legal communities. Using anthropology, history, and the philosophy of law, the work dismantles the myth of customary law among societies without writing and criticizes the reification of the State and legal norms. This work proposes a shift in focus—from law as a norm to law as a means of conflict resolution—and invites the reader to reconsider the legitimacy and function of legal systems. It is intended for researchers and students of legal theory, philosophy of law, and comparative legal traditions. It contributes to contemporary debates on the foundations of legal systems and on the historical contingencies that shape how law is understood and practiced today. About the Author: Fábio Ulhoa Coelho is a Full Professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, where he teaches business law and philosophy of law, and is a lawyer specializing in business law.