Does the Rise of Naturalism Mean the End of Conceptual Analysis in the Methodology of Jurisprudence?

Abstract

Recently, the method of conceptual analysis as the presumed method of analytic jurisprudence has come under attack by Brian Leiter. Relying on W.V.O. Quine’s naturalized epistemology displacing analytic-synthetic distinction on truth, Leiter offered the rejection of conceptual analysis and the adoption of naturalist method committed to doing empirical research in pursuit of providing cause-effect type of explanations in law. He argues that since conceptual analysis relies on the a priori intuitions of the conceptual theorist, this method fails to deliver the universal and necessary truths it set out to deliver. In this essay, I will analyse whether the charges Leiter levels at conceptual analysis stick to it. Drawing on the works of contemporary conceptual jurisprudents, I will conclude that conceptual analysis is secure from the defects that Leiter accuses it to have. I will argue that the questions the naturalist method and the method of conceptual analysis can succeed to answer are different sorts of questions about the law; conceptual analysis does proceed on a posteriori reasoning and its arguments are best construed as necessary truths upon contingent grounds. As a result, the naturalist method fails to replace the method of conceptual analysis.

Keywords

• Methodology of Jurisprudence
• Conceptual Analysis
• Naturalism
• Necessity
• Contingency
• A Priori
• A Posteriori
• Brian Leiter

Hukuk Felsefesi Metodolojisinde Doğalcılığın Yükselişi Kavramsal Analizin Sonu Anlamına Gelir mi?

Abstract

Analitik hukuk felsefesinin varsayılan metodu olarak kavramsal analiz metodu son zamanlarda Brian Leiter’ın saldırılarına maruz kaldı. W.V.O. Quine'ın analitik-sentetik doğruluk ayrımını reddeden doğalcı epistemolojisine dayanan Leiter kavramsal analiz metodunun reddedilmesini ve onun yerine hukuk olgusu hakkında neden-sonuç tipi açıklamalar getirmeyi amaçlayacak ampirik araştırma yapmayı öneren doğalcı metodun benimsenmesini önerdi. Leiter kavramsal analiz metodunun kavramsal analistin a priori sezgilerine dayandığını iddia ederek, bu metodun ortaya koymayı amaçladığı evrensel ve zorunlu olarak doğru argümanlar geliştirmekte başarısız olduğunu savunur. Bu makalede, Leiter'ın kavramsal analiz metoduna atfettiği kusurların bu metodta bulunup bulunmadığnı inceleyeceğim. Çağdaş kavramsal hukukçuların çalışmalarına dayanarak kavramsal analiz metodunun Leiter'ın sahip olduğunu iddia ettiği kusurlardan berî olduğu sonucuna varacağım. Doğalcı metodun ve kavramsal analiz matodunun hukuk olgusu hakkında cevaplamada yetkin olabileceği soruların farklı türden sorular olduğunu, kavramsal analiz metodunun sonuçlarının a posteriori nitelikli olduğunu ve argümanlarının rastlantısal olgular hakkındaki zorunlu doğrular olarak anlaşılması gerektiğini savunacağım. Dolayısıyla, doğalcı metodun kavramsal analiz metodunun yerini almada başarısız olduğunu ortaya koyacağım.

Keywords

• Hukuk Felsefesi Metodolojisi
• Kavramsal Analiz
• Doğalcılık
• Zorunluluk
• Rastlantısallık
• A Priori
• A Posteriori
• Brian Leiter

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