Kelsen on Natural Law Theory

Abstract

In a series of essays published from the late 1920s up to the mid-1960s, Hans Kelsen carried out a radical critique of natural law theory. The present paper purports to provide an analytical reconstruction and critical assessment of such a critique. It contains two parts. Part one surveys the fundamentals of Kelsen?s argumentative strategy against natural law and its theorists. Part two considers, in turn, two critical reactions to Kelsen?s criticisms: by Edgar Bodenheimer, on behalf of traditional natural law theory; by Robert P. George, on behalf of ?the new natural law theory?. As the analysis suggests, Kelsen?s critique stands up to the criticisms.Kelsen in naravnopravni?ka teorija: dolgotrajno kriti?ko razmerje.V nizu razprav objavljenih med koncem dvajsetih in sredino ?estdesetih let prej?njega stoletja je Hans Kelsen v naravnopravni?ko teorijo uperil radikalno kritiko. Avtor te razprave sku?a to Kelsnovo kritiko analiti?no obnoviti in kriti?no ovrednotiti. Njegov zapis je sestavljen iz dveh delov. V prvem se posve?a temeljem Kelsnove argumentacijske strategije zoper naravno pravo in naravnopravni?kee teoretike. V drugem delu pa se osredoto?i na dva kriti?na odgovora na Kelsnov napad. Enega je v imenu tradicionalne naravnopravni?kee teorije podal Edgar Bodenheimer, drugega pa je v imenu »nove naravnopravni?ke teorije« izoblikoval Robert P. George.