A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Hyvästit "Humen giljotiinille": David Humen moraalifisofia, oikeuden teoria ja käytäntö
Authors: Heinilä, Aleksi
Publisher: Suomalainen Lakimiesyhdistys
Publication year: 2024
Journal: Lakimies
Volume: 122
Issue: 7-8/2024
First page : 987
Last page: 1012
ISSN: 0023-7353
eISSN: 2953-9919
Web address : https://journal.fi/lakimies/article/view/147255
The philosophy of David Hume is often presented as sceptical, even though the aspects of his philosophy may be said to be just a starting point for his constructive philosophy, the goals of which are primarily moral-philosophical. In jurisprudence, Hume is mostly known for “Hume’s law”, the logical maxim according to which no set of nonmoral premises can entail a moral conclusion, which is taken to mark an absolute distinction between “is” and “ought”. Crossing this division would result in “naturalistic fallacy”. However, Hume’s own moral philosophy is built on bridging this gap. The article examines Hume’s moral philosophy and how the division between “is” and “ought” should be understood from this point of view in jurisprudence and legal decision-making. It is argued that the sharp division, still largely maintained in theory if not in practice, is not nearly as significant as it has often been held to be, and there is, in general, no need to maintain such an ontological division.