Why Study Philosophy of Law? Reading Bjarne Melkevik

Abstract
Introduction
The status of the philosophy of law and its usefulness for legal thought remains one of the key questions in the legal sphere today. The answer to this question not only shapes the perspectives of legal scholars but also influences their practical work in the field of law. However, many legal professionals perceive the philosophy of law as a theoretical concept, disconnected from the practical application of legal principles. This perception has led to distrust and resistance toward it. In contrast to this skeptical view, some scholars have taken a different approach. Among them, Bjarne Melkevik, a distinguished professor of the philosophy of law, argues that this discipline should be understood as an intellectual framework for the modern legal project. From this perspective, the philosophy of law structures legal reasoning and, in doing so, establishes a fundamental link between philosophical thought and legal practice. The present study examines Bjarne Melkevik’s perspective and, through his ideas and works, addresses the question of the significance and value of the philosophy of law.
Methods
The present study begins with a Doctrinal Legal Research approach, aiming to collect and analyze Bjarne Melkevik’s diverse works in order to identify his fundamental ideas regarding the philosophy of law, legal education, and the public sphere. The selection of these sources has been carried out with the purpose of representing his core views and constructing the theoretical framework of the research. In the second stage, to move beyond mere description toward critical analysis, a Hermeneutic and Critical Discourse Analysis methodology has been employed. At this level, Melkevik’s writings are reinterpreted within the broader discourse of modern legal philosophy and in connection with contemporary legal challenges, thereby opening new horizons on the relationship between philosophy, education, and the social function of law. This approach, inspired primarily by Gadamerian hermeneutics, situates the reading of texts in a living dialogue with current legal issues. Finally, to deepen the findings, a Comparative Method in Legal Philosophy has been applied, allowing Melkevik’s thought - albeit in a condensed form - to be assessed in light of theorists such as Jürgen Habermas and Ronald Dworkin. This combination of doctrinal, hermeneutic, and comparative approaches provides a robust analytical and critical foundation for understanding the role of the philosophy of law within the modern legal project.
Results and Discussions
The present study evaluates the role of the philosophy of law within the framework of the modern legal project. To examine this issue, Bjarne Melkevik highlights the historical conditions that have contributed to distrust toward the philosophy of law. In particular, he emphasizes the divide between the theoretical and practical dimensions in both philosophical and legal thought. In response to such critiques, Melkevik advocates for a philosophy of law that revitalizes legal discourse, opening new perspectives for addressing contemporary legal challenges. He views this achievement as the outcome of a productive dialogue between law, philosophy, and other branches of legal sciences, one that relies on critical, intersubjective reasoning rather than positivist reductionism or prescriptive metaphysics. Analysis of Melkevik’s works in this study shows that legal reasoning serves as the central link between philosophy and law in his thought. In other words, the proper application of philosophy in law functions as a guiding framework that structures legal principles and arguments while remaining accountable to institutional realities and the demands of democratic discourse. To illustrate this role, Melkevik emphasizes philosophy’s guiding capacity within the legal project and the cultural context of a legal system, which determines its openness to philosophical influence. This guidance is deliberative rather than prescriptive, requiring the testing of reasons across scholarly and public forums to establish what counts as a sound argument in practice. Another key concept in Melkevik’s thought is the public sphere, which he examines in relation to the connection between philosophy and law. In democratic societies, law is not only shaped through legislative processes and judicial decisions but is also scrutinized within public discourse. Within this framework, the philosophy of law plays a fundamental role in shaping perceptions and debates in the public domain, privileging communicative rationality and co-authorship of norms. In this way, it provides a critical and reasoned foundation for legal engagement in the public sphere and treats courts not as ultimate arbiters of ethical meaning but as interlocutors within the processes of argumentation and democratic adjudication. Finally, the relationship between philosophy and law - particularly the balance between its theoretical and practical dimensions - is reinforced through the teaching of the philosophy of law in law schools. Melkevik strongly advocates for integrating this philosophy into legal curricula, arguing that its capacity to guide the modern legal project depends on proper instruction. He contends that students can only fully understand the broader societal role of law through a thorough comprehension of the philosophy of law. From a pedagogical perspective, familiarizing students with what law provides for society is achieved through the study of legal philosophy, which cultivates public reasoning, sensitivity to the cultural dimensions of legality and legitimacy, and the development of argumentative judgment oriented toward democratic deliberation and the health of the legal order. From an educational perspective, students' familiarity with what law provides for society comes from learning the philosophy of law.
Conclusion
The philosophy of law, as articulated by thinkers such as Bjarne Melkevik, can offer meaningful responses to the critiques that have been raised against it. Moreover, adopting such a philosophical perspective contributes to a renewed understanding of the concept of law, strengthening the modern legal project in its confrontation with the challenges of today’s legal systems. Through this lens, the philosophy of law becomes a living force in rethinking the rational foundations of law. This philosophy serves both as a safeguard for rights and as an instrument for achieving a democratic conception of law. Accordingly, through the teaching of such a philosophy of law, one can answer the question of why it should be studied in the light of thinkers such as Bjarne Melkevik.