EN
In my article I present Otto Gierke’s attempt to construct the phenomenon of legal entities using the means of analogy. The point of departure for my deliberations, in which I try to demonstrate the nature of metaphorical expressions used in building legal theories, is the speech given by Otto Gierke at the inauguration of his holding the post of university rector on 15 October 1902. The position of Gierke is criticized by Eduard Hölder. Hölder does not see the analogy as a suitable mean for the construction of a legal theory.