Is Ronald Dworkin a Pragmatist?

(2014) 17 Dialogi Polityczne/Political Dialogues. Journal of Political Theory 61

8 Pages Posted: 3 Nov 2017

See all articles by Marie-Andrée Plante

Marie-Andrée Plante

Université de Sherbrooke

Anaïs Voy-Gillis

Centre de recherche et d'analyse géopolitique - Institut français de géopolitique

Date Written: July 1, 2014

Abstract

We seek here to provide a critical analysis of the claim that the theory of interpretation of Ronald Dworkin is in line with the tradition of pragmatist philosophy. We will attempt to determine if some aspects of his works can be shown to display pragmatist elements. Can Ronald Dworkin be called a pragmatist? Does he, perhaps unwittingly, contribute to a philosophy in line with the theories of Peirce, James and Dewey?

In this paper, we will first identify specific pragmatist influences in Dworkin's theory. We will try to demonstrate that by giving a central place to interpretation in his legal theory, Dworkin sometimes follows a pragmatist approach.

Second, we will attempt to establish that the compatibility of Dworkin's theses with pragmatism is nonetheless limited. Indeed, this apparent compatibility would seem to be due rather to a broad use of the term "pragmatism" than to a real commitment to pragmatist theses. We will seek to prove that if Dworkin's thought sometimes follows a pragmatist approach, he cannot himself be described as a pragmatist, in the classical sense employed by pragmatist philosophy.

Keywords: Dworkin, Pragmatism, Law, Interpretation, Legal Pragmatism, Positivism, James, Peirce, Adjudication, Integrity, Judicial Activism, Rights

Suggested Citation

Plante, Marie-Andrée and Voy-Gillis, Anaïs, Is Ronald Dworkin a Pragmatist? (July 1, 2014). (2014) 17 Dialogi Polityczne/Political Dialogues. Journal of Political Theory 61, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3064234

Marie-Andrée Plante (Contact Author)

Université de Sherbrooke ( email )

2500 bd de l'Universite
Sherbrooke, Québec J1K 2R1
Canada

Anaïs Voy-Gillis

Centre de recherche et d'analyse géopolitique - Institut français de géopolitique ( email )

2 rue de la liberté
Saint Denis, 93526
France

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