The Logic of Liberal Rights: A Study in the Formal Analysis of Legal Discourse (Routledge Studies in Twentieth Century Philosophy, 14)

This book aims to identify the formal-logical structure of argument in the adjudication of civil rights and liberties. Its theoretical framework also incorporates important case studies from the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Cases and sources......Page 9 Introduction......Page 12 Agents......Page 22 Rights and restrictions......Page 24 Overview of agents......Page 42 Parties......Page 45 Quantification and reverse translation......Page 64 The individual actor......Page 71 The personal actor......Page 78 The non-personal actor......Page 88 Society......Page 102 Theorems and proofs......Page 112 Implication and implicature......Page 122 Harm......Page 128 Two harm axioms......Page 130 Causation......Page 142 The basic harm symbols......Page 155 Causation markers......Page 168 Right-based harm......Page 174 Restriction-based harm......Page 187 Consent......Page 194 The concept of consent......Page 196 Harm and consent......Page 207 Volition......Page 217 Forms of argument......Page 226 Breach......Page 228 The Urtheorie......Page 234 Individualism and collectivism......Page 238 The background theories......Page 244 Volitional liberalism......Page 246 Non-consensual liberalism......Page 253 Paternalism......Page 260 Democracy......Page 265 Conclusion: a roomful of scholars......Page 272 Axioms and background theories......Page 276 Symbols and formulas......Page 281 Reverse translation rules......Page 286 European Convention on Human Rights (excerpts)......Page 288 Answers to exercises......Page 293 Glossary......Page 319 Notes......Page 324 Bibliography......Page 339 Index......Page 343 The Logic of Liberal Rights uses basic logic to develop a model of argument presupposed in all disputes about civil rights and liberties. No prior training in logic is required, as each step is explained. This analysis does not merely apply general logic to legal arguments but is also specifically tailored to the issues of civil rights and liberties. It shows that all arguments about civil rights and liberties presuppose one fixed structure and that there can be no original argument in rights disputes, except within the confines of that structure. Concepts arising in disputes about rights, like 'liberal' or 'democratic', are not mere abstractions but have a fixed and precise character. This book integrates themes in legal theory, political science and moral philosophy, as well as the philosophy of logic and language. For the advanced scholar, the book provides a model presupposed by leading theoretical schools (liberal and critical, positivist and naturalist). For the student it provides a systematic theory of civil rights and liberties. Examples are drawn from the European Convention in Human Rights but no special knowledge of the Convention is assumed, as the issues analysed arise throughout the world. Such issues include problems of free speech, religious freedom, privacy, torture, unlawful detention and private property. Humanities Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 Acknowledgements 8 Cases and sources 9 Introduction 12 Agents 22 Rights and restrictions 24 Overview of agents 42 Parties 45 Quantification and reverse translation 64 The individual actor 71 The personal actor 78 The non-personal actor 88 Society 102 Theorems and proofs 112 Implication and implicature 122 Harm 128 Two harm axioms 130 Causation 142 The basic harm symbols 155 Causation markers 168 Right-based harm 174 Restriction-based harm 187 Consent 194 The concept of consent 196 Harm and consent 207 Volition 217 Forms of argument 226 Breach 228 The Urtheorie 234 Individualism and collectivism 238 The background theories 244 Volitional liberalism 246 Non-consensual liberalism 253 Paternalism 260 Democracy 265 Conclusion: a roomful of scholars 272 Axioms and background theories 276 Symbols and formulas 281 Reverse translation rules 286 European Convention on Human Rights (excerpts) 288 Answers to exercises 293 Glossary 319 Notes 324 Bibliography 339 Index 343 1. Rights And Restrictions -- 2. Overview Of Agents -- 3. Parties -- 4. Quantification And Reverse Translation -- 5. The Individual Actor -- 6. The Personal Actor -- 7. The Non-personal Actor -- 8. Society -- 9. Theorems And Proofs 10. Implication And Implicature -- 11. Two Harm Axioms -- 12. Causation -- 13. The Basic Harm Symbols -- 14. Causation Markers -- 15. Right-based Harm -- 16. Restriction-based Harm -- 17. The Concept Of Consent -- 18. Harm And Consent 19. Volition -- 20. Breach -- 21. The Urtheorie -- 22. Individualism And Collectivism -- 23. Volitional Liberalism -- 24. Non-consensual Liberalism -- 25. Paternalism -- 26. Democracy -- 27. Conclusion: A Roomful Of Scholars -- App. 4. European Convention On Human Rights (excerpts). Eric Heinze. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [328]-331) And Index.