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A. Greek Concept -Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle believed Socrates’ Absolute Justice
that the main condition of life in society is Two Principal Considerations:
GOOD FAITH which means human beings 1. No person is intentionally bad or evil
have a basic concept of JUSTICE enabling because of the knowledge of justice.
them to distinguish between right and 2. Only a temperate person knows himself
wrong. or herself and thus, able to bring his or
- Art. - 19. Every person must, in the her emotions under control.
exercise of his rights and in the
performance of his duties, act with justice, Plato’s Rational and Universal Justice
give everyone his due, and observe - Exist in the mind, even though not seen
honesty and good faith. (Civil Code of the in fact or performed
Philippines)
Aristotle’s Practical Justice
- Justice must be understood in the sense
of what is FAIR and EQUAL.
B. Roman Concept - Roman jurisprudence subjected it to - Conception of justice began to have a - Gaius advocated for a continuous effort
technical analysis and endorsed it with definite legal content. of removing harmful and useless rules of
their authority and practical genius, unlike law.
the Greek’s concept of nature of law 1. Reexamination by the lawmaking
which was only a philosophical bodies every once in a while.
speculation. 2. Any abnormality in the legal order
could be adjusted to comply with the end
and purpose of the law.
C. Aquinian Concept - Like Socrates, St. Thomas Aquinas - St. Thomas Aquinas thought of the law Two concepts of Justice:
believed in the rational capacity of man to as an institution ordained by God. The 1. Justice as an ethical virtue
know the absolute good. Greco-Roman notion of impersonal nature 2. Justice as juristic norm
as the ultimate source of laws was
substituted by the power of God who
governs all things by the rational
arrangement and distribution of His divine
providence.
- Public welfare or common happiness is
the first concern
- Task to maintain public welfare belongs
to either the people in general or the
person who is delegated by the sovereign
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LEGAL PHILO | Macky . t(-.-t)
FUNCTIONAL PERSPECTIVE - Fundamental focus: analysis of the Social engineering - Criticism of Abstract Values
characteristic action of the law in the - Legal order to decide which among - Criticism of Legal Positivism
solution of conflicting wants in terms of conflicting interests should be prioritized
the interests of society - Law: social phenomenom Goal
- The thrust of this juristic school is to - Serve the jural postulates and express
inquire into the role of the social interests the social interests and incorporate these
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LEGAL PHILO | Macky . t(-.-t)
in the adjustment and reduction of in the formulation of law
conflicting claims, demands and
expectations of the people.
- Functional jurisprudence is a strong
reaction the idealism of both the historical
and teleological perspectives of the
nature of the law.
LEGAL REALISM The term “Modern Legal Realism” à - all law is made by human beings and, Social
describes the experiential outlook of this thus, is subject to human frailties and Legal Realism vs. Natural Law
perspective, Not based on metaphysical imperfections; it should not be rigidly - Natural law was “the law above the law.”
speculations or morality adhered to when it does not work, It is a theory founded on the philosophical
- “Pragmatic Jurisprudence” practically and legal belief that all humans are
- In short: Legal realism seeks to - Therefore: the law should be anchored governed by basic innate laws, or laws of
emancipate the law from its shackles to on human experiences – past and present nature.
formal and mechanical modes of à For law is made by men for men, laws - Legal Realism is founded on the belief
deductive thinking should serve men and not the other way that man makes up his own law. Instead
- Legal realists sought to freshen it up to around of consulting universal
keep abreast of the times by applying to it - Basis of law: The law derives its life from
continuously the pragmatic test of social human experiences and inexperiences;
consequences the law must be pliant to accommodate
such sources
A. Social Legal Realism: John Dewey - Based on John Dewey’s philosophy of - Until law is set into operation in the field Legal Realism vs. Natural Law
education: “learning by doing” modifying and/or maintaining human - Natural law was “the law above the law.”
(experiential learning) activities as going concerns, there can be It is a theory founded on the philosophical
- Dewey: knowledge is part of life- no law in real sense and legal belief that all humans are
experience involving the “intercourse of a - Law becomes an instrument of social governed by basic innate laws, or laws of
living being with his physical and social control nature.
environment” - The use of sanctions for the attainment - Legal Realism is founded on the belief
- Learning becomes effective when of social ends that man makes up his own law. Instead of
coordinated with experience APPLICATION consulting universal principles, man
- It is not something that happens after a consults his own needs, wants, and
rule or statute is laid down but is a agendas, or the changing norms of the
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LEGAL PHILO | Macky . t(-.-t)
necessary part of them society in which he lives.
- “necessary part” - that in a given case
we can judge what the law is as a matter - “The end or purpose of the law is the
of fact only by telling how it operates and deliberate achievement of social
what its effects are in and upon human contentment”
activities that are going on
CRITICAL LEGAL REALISM - Seeks to fundamentally alter lawà - The law exists to support the interests of DECONSTRUCTION in Critical Legal
exposing it as not a rational system of the party or class that forms it Realism
accumulated wisdom but an ideology that - It is merely a collection of beliefs and - It is the technique of:
supports and makes possible an unjust prejudices that legitimize the injustices of 1. Tight analysis of the traditions of the
political system society dominant liberal paradigm
- A revolutionary movement that - The wealthy and the powerful use the 2. Reformation of the traditions of the
challenges and seeks to overturn law as a means for oppression in order to dominant liberal paradigm
accepted norms and standards in legal maintain their place in the social hierarchy
theory and practice àexposes what it - A tool used by the establishment to TRANSFORMATION OF THE POST-
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LEGAL PHILO | Macky . t(-.-t)
sees as its flaws maintain its power and domination over LIBERAL ORDER
an unequal status quo. 1. Decentralization of government
2. Reorganization of market economy
3. Reconstruction of system of rights
SCANDINAVIAN LEGAL REALISM - It rejects the view that law is a - Thus, for phychological legal realism, the
determinate body of doctrine or that law and its component system of jural
precedents and statutes determine the relations are real because they are social
outcome of legal disputes. facts. The evaluation is no longer left to
- Scandinavian legal realism, like axiological criteria but to the feeling of
American realism, regards law as an what is good for the society. However, the
empirical fact. judgment of value involved is problematic.
- However, American realists treated law - legislation, execution of statutes, and
as a kind of behavior of a certain social adjudication of cases are essential to the
group, consisting of people professionally social order, and to assure the legal
preoccupied with resolving conflicts; ordering of society the law and its
Scandinavian realists, on the other hand, component jural relations must be based
searched for the “essence” of legal on the “felling for justice prevalent and
phenomena in the psychological reactions current within society.” This is different
of individuals. Hence such concepts as from the concept of justice propounded by
“law” or “obligation” are regarded by the natural law philosophers which
Scandinavian realism as psychological indicates or points to “the one and only
facts. solution.”
• Common law systems place great weight on court decisions, which are considered "law" with the same force of law as statutes. In civil
law jurisdictions (the legal tradition that prevails in, or is combined with common law in, Europe and most non-Islamic, non-common
law countries), judicial precedent is given less weight (which means that a judge deciding a given case has more freedom to interpret
the text of a statute independently, and less predictably), and scholarly literature is given more. For example, the Napoleonic Code
expressly forbade French judges from pronouncing general principles of law.
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LEGAL PHILO | Macky . t(-.-t)
• Common law systems trace their history to England, while civil law systems trace their history to Roman law and the Napoleonic Code.
• The common law is being replaced by statute or codified rule in the United States, in which case, the statute sets the general
principles, but the common law process determines the scope and application of the statute.
• Judicial opinions are usually quite long, and give rationales and policies that can be balanced with judgment in future cases, rather than
the bright-line rules usually embodied in statutes.
• Common law courts tend to use an adversarial system, in which two sides present their cases to a neutral judge. In contrast, in civil law
systems, inquisitorial systems proceedings, where an examining magistrate serves two roles by developing the evidence and
arguments for one and the other side during the investigation phase.
LEGAL POSITIVISM
Law is a complete set of norms and rules of action which excludes from its specific concerns value creation, clarification and realization.
Social Valu “ Power” - A political mechanism for the good of the society which reflects the will and choice of the people as a whole and not just that of the leader.
• Social Value “KNOWLEDGE” - Means the widespread understanding among peoples of different cultures and backgrounds.
THE SOCIAL VALUE “RESPECT” - Regard for life and esteem for the dignity and worth of human personality.
• THE SOCIAL VALUE “INCOME” - It means the economic betterment of the people, adequate provision for a high employment level, freedom to unionize and bargain
collectively, efficient method of production and wise consumption of goods and services, and raising of the plane of living
• THE SOCIAL VALUE “SAFETY” - Represents and signifies public protection, pubic health, social security and peace and order.
• THE SOCIAL VALUE “LIBERTY” - In the physical context, liberty means security from restraints or freedom of the body from external physical compulsion
Due process of Law
1. Explain what is meant by the universality of human rights as based on Natural Law (5pts.) and on Policy
Science Perspective (5pts.)?
2. A sells his 1997 Nissan Sentra to B, a compadre and leaves it to B to determine the price. If B refuses to fix
a price and simply takes the car, is he obliged to pay the price? Explain. (5pts.)
3. How would you compare the Civil Law system (5pts.) with that of the Common Law system (5pts.)?
4. What is the Policy Science Perspective and how does it define law? (5pts.) Explain its critique of Legal
Positivism. (5pts.) What are the social values espoused under this perspective? (5pts.)
5. Explain how law relates to morality in Legal Positivism (5pts.) and in Natural Law. (5pts.)
6. Define law according to Legal Formalism (5pts.) and Legal Realism. (5pts.)
7. Why should the law be liberalizing according to Critical Legal Realism? (5pts.)
9. Demetrio knew that a piece of land bordering the beach belonged to Ernesto. However, since Ernesto was in
Europe, no one was taking care of the land. Demetrio built nipa sheds on Ernesto’s land and rented out
these sheds to people on the beach. When Ernesto returned, he demanded return of the land. Demetrio
agreed but only after he has removed the nipa sheds. Ernesto refused on the ground that the nipa sheds
already belonged to him by right of accession. Who is correct? Decide the case using the functional
perspective. (5pts.)