LEGAL RIGHTS AND THEIR PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS: AN EXAMINATION OF HOHFELD'S ANALYSIS

Abstract

This paper examined Wesley Newcomb Hohfeld's influential analysis of legal rights through a multimethodological approach, integrating argumentation analysis, author analysis, and reflective equilibrium. The argumentation analysis critically evaluates the logical structure of Hohfeld's framework, assessing its consistency and robustness while identifying strengths and potential weaknesses in his distinctions between legal concepts. The author analysis situates Hohfeld’s work within its historical and intellectual context, exploring his academic background, influences, and the reception of his theories in legal scholarship. Finally, the study employed a reflective equilibrium, aligning Hohfeld's theoretical distinctions with practical legal applications to achieve coherence between abstract legal principles and their real-world manifestations. By combining these methodologies, the study offers a comprehensive understanding of the philosophical foundations of legal rights and highlights Hohfeld’s lasting impact on contemporary legal thought and practice.