Principia iuris: ottimismo metodologico e riaffermazione della cultura dei diritti

Methodological Optimism - Principia iuris by L. Ferrajoli provides a comprehensive theory of law and democracy of singular relevance in the international literature of the last decades. After mentioning some of its primary distinguishing features, this paper focuses on the import of the theoretical and argumentative apparatus of Principia iuris which allows those who cares for their protection to react and reply to the everyday progressive delegitimation of the doctrine and culture of fundamental rights. Namely, it focuses on the import of Ferrajoli’s theory in answering five widespread sort of contentions undermining the doctrine and the culture of fundamental rights: (a) the restatement of war as a means for their international protection, (b) the warning against their Western connotation and imperialistic intent; (c) the claim for a minimalist redefinition of their catalogue; (d) the query as to whether law can be taken to be a necessary condition to secure their protection and enforcement; (e) the refusal of their (inter)national legal statement and judicial enforcement as the principal means of their violation.;

Tecla Mazzarese, Principia iuris: ottimismo metodologico e riaffermazione della cultura dei diritti in "TEORIA POLITICA" 2/2008, pp 81-98, DOI: