The inclusive positivists' criticisms to Joseph Raz's argument and how he answered (or could have answered) them

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/1677-2954.2022e91872

Keywords:

Joseph Raz, Exclusive positivism, Jules Coleman, Wilfrid J. Waluchow

Abstract

The recently deceased Joseph Raz elaborated one of the most famous and influential arguments against the incorporation thesis and in favor of Exclusive Positivism. We will explain Raz's argument in detail, how he articulates his theses of authority, instantiation, preemption, normal justification, and sources to reach his conclusion. Then we will confront Raz's argument with two different blocks of criticisms against it, made by two of the most important inclusive positivists, namely, Jules Coleman and Wilfrid J. Waluchow, followed by the answers Raz gave, or could have given, to these criticisms.

Author Biography

André Coelho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Professor Adjunto IV de Teoria do Direito na Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Graduado em Direito pela Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA, 2005), Mestre e Doutor em Filosofia pela Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC, 2012, 2017), com dissertação sobre soberania popular e direitos humanos em Habermas e tese sobre o processo judicial em Habermas. Doutorado Sanduíche de um ano na Goethe Universität Frankfurt, sob supervisão do Prof. Dr. Klaus Günther.

References

BIX, B. H. Joseph Raz’s Approach to Legal Positivism. In: MINDUS, P. & SPAAK, T. (eds.). The Cambridge Companion to Legal Positivism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021. 349–370.

COLEMAN, J. L. et al. The practice of principle: in defense of a pragmatist approach to legal theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.

PERRY, S. R. Method and principle in legal theory. In: Yale Law Journal, 2002, 111: 1757–1813.

PERRY, S. R. The Varieties of Legal Positivism: Critical Notice: Inclusive Legal Positivism by W. J. Waluchow. In: The Canadian Journal of Law and Jurisprudence, 9(02), 1996, 361–381.

RAZ, J. Ethics in the public domain: essays in the morality of law and politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.

RAZ, J. The authority of law: essays on law and morality. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.

RAZ, J. The morality of freedom. Clarendon Press, 1986.

RAZ, J. The Problem of Authority: Revisiting the Service Conception. In: 90 MINN. L. REV. 1003, 2006.

WALUCHOW, W. J. Inclusive legal positivism. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1994.

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Published

2023-03-16

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 3 (2022): Dossiê Positivismo Jurídico

Section

Dossiê Positivismo Jurídico / Legal Positivism

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