The Legal Theory Of Ethical Positivism (applied Legal Philosophy)

The Legal Theory of Ethical Positivism re-establishes some of the dogmas of classical legal positivism regarding the separation of legizlation and adjudication and the feasibility of institutionalizing the morally neutral application of rules as an ideal capable of significant realization. This is supplemented by an analysis of the formal similarities of the morally and legally adjudicative points of view which offers the prospects of attributing a degree of moral authority to positivistic rule application in particular cases. These theories are worked through in their application to specific problem areas, particularly freedom of communication. Orderliness -- Fairness -- Socialisation -- Efficiency -- The Politics of Rules -- Critiques of Rules -- Conclusion -- 4 Positivist Ideals -- The Prescriptive Separation Thesis -- The Historical Associations -- Modern Positivisms -- Legalism not Formalism -- Conclusion -- 5 The Ethics of Positivism -- Introduction -- Legal Positivism and the Alleged Amorality of Law -- Lawyers' Ethics -- The Ethics of Adjudication -- The Legislative Ethic and the Role of the Citizen -- Conclusion -- 6 Ethical Interpretations -- Introduction -- Interpretations -- Contextually Evident Meanings -- Stipulations Legislative Purpose -- Recognising Rules -- Conclusion -- 7 Humane Rights and Freedom of Expression -- Introduction -- Rights and Human Rights -- The Articulation of Human Rights -- The Epistemological Argument -- The Democratic Argument -- The Ideological Argument -- The Argument from Positivist Values -- Conclusion -- 8 The Political Choices Within Freedom of Speech -- Introduction -- The Argument for Truth -- The Tendency to Abuse and the Harm of Speech -- The Value of Truth -- The Argument for Self-determination -- The Argument for Democracy -- Conclusion -- 9 Positivist Defamation Law Cover -- Half Title -- Dedication -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Series Preface -- Preface and Acknowledgements -- 1 Introducing Ethical Positivism -- Introduction -- The Ethics of Positivism -- A Positivism of Rules -- Some Implications of Ethical Positivism -- The Scheme of the Book -- 2 The Tragic Paradox of Politics -- Introduction -- Political Philosophy -- Freedom and Autonomy -- Utility and Rights -- Justice -- Democracy -- Summary and Critique -- 3 The Roles of Rules -- Introduction -- Rules: The Preliminary Analysis -- Rule Rationales -- The Diversity of Rationales Introduction -- Defamation Criteria: Fact or Value? -- The Elusive Distinction between Fact and Opinion -- Defamation and Freedom of Expression -- Conclusion -- 10 Conclusion: A Unifying Prescription -- Introduction -- Socialist Positivism -- Critical Legal Positivism -- Feminist Positivism -- Alternative Dispute Resolution -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index In legal theory, legal positivism is generally taken to be the view that the concept of law can be elucidated without reference to morality. It is the thesis of this book that such a belief in the amoralism (and certainly the immoralism) of legal positivism is mistaken. Tom D. Campbell. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 261-277) And Index.