Toleration, Synthesis or Replacement? The “Empirical Turn” and its Consequences for the Science of International Law
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One of the most striking trends in contemporary IL scholarship is the turn to empirical research methods. Some see this as sign of progress, whereas others call for caution or even show hostility. With a view to the future of IL scholarship, however, all sides in this at times heated debate seem to have considerable problems keeping a clear focus on the key question: What are the implications of this empirical turn in terms of philosophy of legal science, of the social understanding of IL, and, not least, of the place of doctrinal scholarship after the alleged Wende? What is needed, we argue, in order to answer is not yet another partisan suggestion, but rather an attempt at making intelligible both the oppositions and the possibilities of synthesis between normative and empirical approaches to law.
Based on our assessment and rational reconstruction of current arguments and positions, we therefore outline a taxonomy consisting of the following three basic, ideal-types in terms of the epistemological understanding of the interface of law and empirical studies: toleration, synthesis and replacement. This tripartite model proves useful with a view to teasing out and better articulating implications of and interrelations between positions. As such, the model i) provides a framework to better situate arguments about the role of empirical studies in IL; ii) helps identify real epistemological stakes in order to overcome ‘trench wars’ – or worse: absence of dialogue and genuine argument; and iii) thus ultimately contributes to the development of a genuine basic science-of-law.
Based on our assessment and rational reconstruction of current arguments and positions, we therefore outline a taxonomy consisting of the following three basic, ideal-types in terms of the epistemological understanding of the interface of law and empirical studies: toleration, synthesis and replacement. This tripartite model proves useful with a view to teasing out and better articulating implications of and interrelations between positions. As such, the model i) provides a framework to better situate arguments about the role of empirical studies in IL; ii) helps identify real epistemological stakes in order to overcome ‘trench wars’ – or worse: absence of dialogue and genuine argument; and iii) thus ultimately contributes to the development of a genuine basic science-of-law.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Leiden Journal of International Law |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 4 |
Pages (from-to) | 1001-1019 |
Number of pages | 19 |
ISSN | 0922-1565 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2016 |
Event | Symposium on ‘The Changing Role of Scholarship in International Law’ | 11 May 2015 - Hague Institute for Global Justice, Hague, Netherlands Duration: 11 May 2015 → 11 May 2015 http://www.law.leiden.edu/organisation/publiclaw/publicinternationallaw/news/ljil-symposium-11-may-2015.html |
Conference
Conference | Symposium on ‘The Changing Role of Scholarship in International Law’ | 11 May 2015 |
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Location | Hague Institute for Global Justice |
Country | Netherlands |
City | Hague |
Period | 11/05/2015 → 11/05/2015 |
Internet address |
- Faculty of Law - International legal theory, empirical studies of law, sociology of law, epistemology of law, The Empirical Turn
Research areas
ID: 154404336