Objectivity has gained a negative reputation, which poses a particular challenge for the field of law. Argument scholars can potentially provide insight into this problem. While some argue for the extreme position of abolishing law entirely, others maintain that as long as a legal system exists, judges must maintain objectivity (Nagel, 1993).
The rationale is clear: the purpose of the law is to uphold justice. Nonetheless, if judges make decisions based on unreliable criteria, justice cannot be achieved. Conversely, there is an assertion that complete objectivity is unattainable. How should we address the Critical Legal contention that judges are not constrained by "black letter" law? Nonetheless, discrimination persists within the American Legal System.
The factors of gender, race, and class differences have an influence on judges' decisions and may contribute to a person's potential accusation. The challenge lies in finding a way to approac
...h objectivity that acknowledges both its importance and its difficulty to achieve. Simply reaffirming outdated beliefs about objectivity or completely rejecting them without considering the implications for social action is insufficient. Instead, it may be more effective to explore the construction of objectivity and the consequences of these constructions on specific outcomes. Examining legal decisions closely can provide valuable insight into how judges shape their own understanding of objectivity.
According to sociologist Karen Pyke, power struggles among men are influenced by the hierarchies of race and class. Pyke argues that white heterosexual middle- and upper-class men in positions of power in economic, political, and military institutions establish a dominant form of masculinity that society celebrates. African American men have long contended that white supremacy oppresses them both materially and culturally. In terms of material oppression,
they are deprived of the privileges associated with hegemonic masculinity such as control over women, jobs that offer technical expertise and autonomy, and financial and political authority. Culturally, African American men have faced stereotypes throughout history: during antebellum times they were depicted as docile and childlike, while postbellum era portrayed them as violent, sexually uncontrollable, and unintelligent. These stereotypes enable white men to view themselves as superior since African American men lack the mental and moral qualities deemed necessary for "civilized" individuals. This perspective is reinforced by several judges and government officials within court and governmental institutions.
The question of law's objectivity arises. Is law preexisting before legal decisions? Can legal reasoning be influenced by standards found within legal materials? In the twenty-first century, we can affirm a more nuanced position than Holmes' assertion in the nineteenth century. Indeed, the standards that guide legal reasoning can be inherent to the legal system, although never flawless. Positive law is a product of human efforts, a cultural creation, primarily established for moral reasons, to promote justice and the common good. In other words, law exists within what Aristotelians define as the realm of technique, but it is formulated within this realm for the sake of goals that pertain to the moral sphere.
So, human beings create normative systems of enforceable social rules for moral reasons, which have some autonomy from morality itself. These rules are intentionally designed to be analyzed and applied technically to establish limits on freedom of conduct and resolve disputes among citizens, governments, or between governments at different levels (Sandmann, 1991). To support this analysis and application, we establish a legal profession. The legal profession comprises
individuals who are educated in programs that teach not only moral philosophy but also the specific tools and techniques required for legal analysis, such as research, interpretation, reasoning, and argumentation...
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