Critique of teleology in Kant and Dworkin: The law without organs (lwo)

Philosophy and Social Criticism 33 (2):179-201 (2007)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Kant proposes a unique and necessary presupposition of our faculty of judgment. Empirical nature, together with its diverse laws, must be judged as if it were a coherent unity. In a teleological judgment, we add that nature must be judged as if it were purposively designed for our faculty of judgment. In this article, I argue that Kant's insights on reflective teleological judgment - the least commentedupon element of the Critical philosophy - are adopted by Dworkin towards a philosophy of law and adjudication. I claim Dworkin's concept of ‘integrity’ strictly, but tacitly, partakes of the structure of Kant's teleological judgment in its presumption of systematicity in juridical laws and unity of community which designs and abides its own principles. Throughout, I draw on Gilles Deleuze - a philosopher who complains of being ‘against judgment’ and wishes ‘to have done with judgment’ - to critique both the presuppositions and effects of such teleological judgment and the image of law it proposes. Using Deleuze I hope to characterize and criticize the teleological theory of judgment and also fruitfully engage Deleuze with problems of law scarcely addressed either by himself or by commentary. Key Words: Gilles Deleuze • Ronald Dworkin • integrity • judgment • Immanuel Kant • law • principle • teleology.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 91,672

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-01-28

Downloads
54 (#294,172)

6 months
9 (#300,433)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Alexandre Lefebvre
The University of Sydney

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

A thousand plateaus: capitalism and schizophrenia.Gilles Deleuze - 1987 - London: Athlone Press. Edited by Félix Guattari.
Taking rights seriously.Ronald Dworkin (ed.) - 1977 - London: Duckworth.
Difference and repetition.Gilles Deleuze - 1994 - London: Athlone Press.
Law’s Empire.Ronald Dworkin - 1986 - Harvard University Press.

View all 31 references / Add more references