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Peirce And The Law: A New Hypothesis, Geoffrey Metcalf Turley

Geoffrey Turley

This article suggests that lawmaking should be informed by philosopher Charles Peirce's formulation of the scientific method. It tracks the development of Peirce's method into a specific, three step process: hypothesis, in which we suggest a general rule that would explain an observed phenomenon; deduction, in which we determine what real world consequents we expect to follow if our hypothesis is correct; and induction, in which we conduct experiments to see if those consequents do indeed occur. The article suggests that lawmaking should more strictly apply this method, using the legislature to make statutes that predict how the law should …