Skilful legal judgment and varieties of intuition

Tommi Ralli

doi:10.35295/osls.iisl.2320

Autori

Tommi Ralli Independent

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.2320

Parole chiave:

intuition, judicial intuition, practical wisdom, nous, insight

Abstract

This article examines intuition as a skill. A skill which guides the focus of our work, with good intuition repeatedly guiding us to the correct path. Five varieties of intuition are distinguished. Differing views on intuition in judicial decision-making are comprehensively analysed, and the idea of a locator skill proposed. The oldest three of the five varieties originate from Aristotle; the remaining two discussed are Poincaré’s phases of discovery ― which anticipated the most classic example of judicial intuition ― and, finally, intuition as familiarity. The article contends that intuition is best understood as a locator, indicating the area in which we must work. That simple idea is appropriate to difficult questions, unlike the influential view of intuition as quick recognition of familiarity. The article makes progress in understanding the history of ideas about intuition in jurisprudence, and the idea of good intuition ― a locator skill, set apart from quick judgment.

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Biografia autore

Tommi Ralli, Independent

Independent Legal Consultant, Frankfurt am Main; Research Collaborator, Centre of European Law and Politics, University of Bremen. Contact: ralli@uni-bremen.de

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