The Variable Determinacy Thesis

100 Pages Posted: 3 Apr 2011 Last revised: 13 Dec 2011

See all articles by Harry Surden

Harry Surden

University of Colorado Law School

Date Written: March 31, 2011

Abstract

This Article proposes a novel technique for characterizing the relative determinacy of legal decision-making. I begin with the observation that the determinacy of legal outcomes varies from context to context within the law. To augment this intuition, I develop a theoretical model of determinate legal decision-making. This model aims to capture the essential features that are typically associated with the concept of legal determinacy. I then argue that we can use such an idealized model as a standard for expressing the relative determinacy or indeterminacy of decision-making in actual, observed legal contexts.

From a legal theory standpoint, this approach – separating determinacy and indeterminacy into their constituent conceptual elements – helps us to more rigorously define these theoretical ideas. Ultimately, from a practical standpoint, I assert that this framework assists in understanding why legal outcomes in certain contexts are determinate enough to be amenable to resolution by computers.

Keywords: determinacy, indeterminacy, automation, computability, automated legal reasoning, legal reasoning, computers, computation, computable, automated, determinate, indeterminate, meta-rules

Suggested Citation

Surden, Harry, The Variable Determinacy Thesis (March 31, 2011). Columbia Science and Technology Law Review, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2010-11, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1800174

Harry Surden (Contact Author)

University of Colorado Law School ( email )

401 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309
United States

HOME PAGE: http://lawweb.colorado.edu/profiles/profile.jsp?id=316

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