The focus of this monograph lies in the construction of a theory of legal obligation, understanding it as a discrete notion with its own defining traits. In this work, Bertea specifically addresses the question: how should legal obligation be distinctively conceptualized? The conceptualization of legal obligation he defends in this work gradually emerges from a critical assessment of the theories of legal obligation that have been most influential in the contemporary legal-theoretical debate. Building on such critical analysis, Bertea's study purports to offer a novel and unconventional conceptualization of legal obligation, which is characterized as a law-engendered intersubjective reason for carrying out certain courses of conduct.

Questions how should legal obligation be distinctively conceptualized and defends a comprehensive and original theory of legal obligation
Critically assesses the most influential theoretical existing models and presents a new, alternative concept of legal obligation
Explores a unique methodology of inquiry that has not been used in jurisprudence before and is not reducible to any of the traditional methods employed