P.J.A. Feuerbach and Norwegian Criminal Law

This article provides an overview of the reception of Paul Johann Anselm Feuerbach’s criminal law thinking in Norwegian criminal law science from about 1800 until today. Feuerbach, who is celebrated in 2025 on the occasion of his 250th anniversary, has had a significant impact on the development of Norwegian criminal law, although this has varied considerably over time. The article shows how Feuerbach became a crucial point of reference in the first half of the 19th century, mediated through the writings of the Danish jurist Anders Sandøe Ørsted, and that Feuerbach’s theories on punishment underpinned the Criminal Code of 1842. In the 20th century, Feuerbach remained present in criminal law discourses, but to a lesser degree. In recent years, the discipline has seen a revival of theoretical and normative orientations in general, and Feuerbach again receiving more attention from some scholars. The article concludes by suggesting that future research projects combining historical and theoretical perspectives could potentially also disclose whether there are more ‘hidden’ influences from Feuerbach in Norwegian criminal law.