Philipp Heck (22 July 1858 – 28 June 1943) was a German jurist and a leading proponent of the doctrine of

jurisprudence of interests In European legal history and the philosophy of law, the jurisprudence of interests is a doctrine of legal positivism of the early 20th century, according to which a written law must be interpreted to reflect the interests it is to promote. The ma ...

. After studies in Berlin, he taught law since 1891 at the

University of Greifswald The University of Greifswald (; german: Universität Greifswald), formerly also known as “Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald“, is a public research university located in Greifswald, Germany, in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pom ...

, since 1892 at the

University of Halle Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg (german: Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg), also referred to as MLU, is a public, research-oriented university in the cities of Halle and Wittenberg and the largest and oldest university i ...

and from 1901 until 1928 at the

University of Tübingen The University of Tübingen, officially the Eberhard Karl University of Tübingen (german: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; la, Universitas Eberhardina Carolina), is a public research university located in the city of Tübingen, Baden-Wü ...

. His work on judicial methodology was highly influential in helping to establish the doctrine of jurisprudence of interests, which he often polemically defended against the opposing schools of free law (''Freirechtslehre'') and the

jurisprudence of concepts The jurisprudence of concepts was the first ''sub-school'' of legal positivism, according to which, the written law must reflect concepts, when interpreted.that means that the interpretation of the words stated in the law must be guided by the sc ...

. Under National Socialist rule, Heck attempted to gain favor with the regime by using his methodology to justify the application of Nazi racial legislation.

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