Exploring Law Through Computer Simulation

Posted: 29 Feb 2008

See all articles by Michael Aikenhead

Michael Aikenhead

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Robin Widdison

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Tom Allen

affiliation not provided to SSRN

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.

Suggested Citation

Aikenhead, Michael and Widdison, Robin and Allen, Tom, Exploring Law Through Computer Simulation. International Journal of Law and Information Technology, Vol. 7, Issue 3, pp. 191-217, 1999, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=915079

Michael Aikenhead (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Robin Widdison

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Tom Allen

affiliation not provided to SSRN

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