Metatheoretical, descriptive, and normative research on the law as a governmental form

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K23160
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0105:Law and related fields
• Research Institution: Waseda University (2022); Rikkyo University (2019-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Hirai Mitsuki 早稲田大学, 法学学術院, 講師(任期付) (20850233)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 法哲学 / 法概念論 / メタ法理論 / 概念工学 / 法の支配 / 裁定理論 / 規範的法実証主義 / ロナルド・ドゥウォーキン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, I (1) explored the content of "governance through the form of law," (2) elucidated its specific functions, and (3) examined its desirable aspects by means of various papers, conference presentations, and an (unpublished) doctoral dissertation. Regarding (1), as a preparation for answering the question of "what is law," we addressed the metatheoretical question of "what is “what is law” at all," followed by an answer to (1) and (2) above, which refers to "what is the form of governance called law, and what unique functions does it have (in relation to other forms of governance)?" Finally, by comparing the legislature as a democratic institution and the judiciary as a non-democratic institution, we examined (3) "desirable aspects".

Free Research Field

法哲学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の学術的意義は、現在やや退潮傾向にある「法という統治形式」や「法の支配」が持つ規範的意義を、「法」「法の支配」概念の検討と、当該検討を前提とした民主的立法府と非民主的司法府の機能的差異の検討を通じて明らかにした点にある。特に、前者に関しては、概念工学の手法を用いたメタ法理論的検討を伴うもので、法哲学的研究としては本邦において先駆的な試みである。また、本研究の社会的意義は、実定法学や立法学、議会学等、より実務志向的な諸分野への規範的示唆を与え、間接的に望ましい制度設計への提言を行っている点にある。