The Principle Lex Specialis: a Critical Explanation
Abstract
The principle lex specialis, according to which special rules derogate from general rules, belongs to the core of the Western legal tradition. In the eyes of jurists and legal philosophers, this principle would have a simple and clear meaning and would be a criterion for resolving normative antinomies. This common view is unsatisfactory in many respects. This article addresses three general topics that are often forgotten in literature. First, it is proposed to illustrate the legal specialty as a genus to species relationship between legal concepts. Secondly, it is proposed to examine the phenomenon of general and special rules not only when they are conflicting and generate total-partial antinomies, but mainly when they are redundant rules. Thirdly, and finally, it sheds light on the divergence between special and general rules in the context of legal justification.
