Alt tag
Ria Jenkins will be presenting this talk in the Philosophy in the Community series.

The Rule of Law and the Problem of Too Many Laws

A Philosophy in the Community event with STM philosophy professor Ria Jenkins

Event

Date: Friday, April, 11
Time: 7 pm
Location: The Refinery
Emmanuel Anglican (formerly St. James) Church Basement
607 Dufferin Avenue

About this event

The concept and value of the rule of law seems clear, especially in contrast to the rule by those exercising power arbitrarily (often referred to as the “rule by men”). It seems obvious that Canada is a rule of law jurisdiction, while dictatorships and authoritarian regimes are not. However, philosophers, in attempting to understand and articulate this idea, encounter all sorts of problems and perplexities.

In this talk, Jenkins will introduce some of these philosophical perplexities by focusing on Vincent Chiao’s recent discussion of the problem of “hyperlexis” or too many laws. It seems that the sheer number and complexity of rules undermine both the rule of law and our confidence in calling Canada a rule of law jurisdiction. Although Chiao’s own attempt at a solution simply shifts the problem to a different level, he
does point to a temporal complexity with the idea of the rule of law that must be addressed in any account of the rule of law.



Upcoming Events

Staff and Sessionals: THE GREAT CONJUNCTION

Sep 23 - Oct 18, 2024
An exhibition of work by staff and sessional lecturers of the School for the Arts

Discovering the Amatis

Oct 20, 2024
String concert featuring Carissa Klopoushak and Emily Kruspe

Literature Matters: Why Writing is Like Death (in early medieval England)

Oct 23, 2024
A public talk by Professor Yin Liu of the Department of English

 

See all events