Explicating the Internal Point of View

Abstract

In The Concept of Law, H.L.A. Hart offered one of the most influential theories of law today. One of the major parts of his theory is the concept of internal and external points of view. When making purely descriptive statements (as opposed to statements that also endorse) about a legal system, Hart claimed that one speaks from an external point of view. In this paper I point out the prescience of Hart in adopting a linguistic framework in his theory, and discuss the external point of view as distinguished from Hart's third point of view, the detached external point of view. This third category allows for statements to be made that do not commit the proponent to the assertion of truth or validity of the statement, since the truth and validity are dependent on the particular legal system.