On legal pragmatism: Where does ´The path of law´ lead us?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21703/issn2735-6337/2025.n46.03Keywords:
Legal pragmatism, Oliver Wendell Holmes, classical pragmatism tradition, legal theory, legal realismAbstract
The article critically examines the contemporary notion of 'legal pragmatism', contrasting it with the philosophical tradition of classical pragmatism (Peirce, James, Dewey) and the thought of Oliver Wendell Holmes. Its aim is to clarify current confusions surrounding the concept, assess the relevance of Holmes’s approach, and rehabilitate 'legal pragmatism' as a rich and nuanced conception of law—rooted in practice yet open to critical theory and moral progress. Methodologically, the article combines conceptual analysis with a close reading of the famous address “The Path of the Law” (1897), exploring its key arguments and the internal tensions between its practical realism and theoretical aspiration. It argues that contemporary ‘legal pragmatism’ is conceptually fragmented, often detached from the philosophical roots of classical pragmatism. In contrast, the article proposes a rereading of Holmes’s thought not as anti-theoretical, but as committed to a comprehensive vision of law as a historical, local, and evolving institution. The author contends that Holmes offers a realist and fallibilist theory of law—one that avoids essentialism without lapsing into skepticism or total relativism. In conclusion, the article maintains that the true value of legal pragmatism lies in the classical tradition and the complexity of Holmes’s legacy, rather than in today’s anti-theoretical or merely instrumental versions.
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