Can computer perform legal interpretation?: the role of argument in legal interpretation

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22059
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0105:Law and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyushu University (2022-2023); Osaka University (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Nishimura Tomoumi 九州大学, 法学研究院, 准教授 (80884767)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 法的思考 / 人工知能 / 法的推論

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to conduct a philosophical analysis of the nature of legal judgment, particularly focusing on the activity of "argumentation," and, based on this, to gain some insights into the practical issue of applying artificial intelligence to judicial proceedings. Given the extremely rapid pace of technological innovation in AI-related technologies, a challenge in conducting this research was that the points needing examination changed during the study period. However, it was possible to demonstrate at least the following: (1) there is a certain relationship between the concept of "explainability," which is a focal point in recent discussions on AI ethics, and "argumentation," and (2) there is a certain relationship between "explainability" and the issue of the appropriateness of automation.

Free Research Field

法哲学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、「機械による裁判官の代替可能性」という極めて狭い人工知能関連技術の応用場面に注目した研究だが、昨今のAI倫理に関する議論において一定の重要な地位を占める「説明性 explanability」という概念について、一定の示唆を得ることができた。この成果は、現代のAI倫理に関する実践的な問題に対して、法哲学における法的判断に関する古典的な議論が示唆を持つことを示しており、今後のAI倫理に関する議論への貢献が期待される。