Exploring Law Through Computer Simulation
Posted: 29 Feb 2008
Abstract
The dominant method of legal analysis is currently the analytic study of law. Recent work in the social sciences suggest a new approach to legal analysis. This approach is based on the use of computer simulation. As yet, the use of computer simulation as a tool in legal studies is comparatively rare. However, there are numerous reasons to regard this as a potentially profitable method of legal analysis. This paper reviews existing uses of computer simulation in legal analysis and argues that computer simulation has much as yet unrealized potential as a tool for legal analysis. In particular it is argued that distributed artificial intelligence based simulation immediately appears to offer great scope for the investigation of law. The article examines several existing computer simulations based on distributed artificial intelligence and suggests some ways in which such simulations could be constructed in the legal domain.
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