Logical reasoning provides the foundation that prevents common law from becoming arbitrary fiat.
Evidence
Without a reasoning process adhering to rules of logic to support conclusions, judicial decisions would have been nothing more than decrees, orders and judicial fiat. — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 122
Categorization
- DEFINE: XREF: legal reasoning methodology
- corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 122
- XREF: connects to: Judicial decisions depend entirely on articulated reasons rather than fiat — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 138; The ability to study law depends on recognizing logical connections in cases — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 210; Legal reasoning requires mastery of deductive and inductive logic principles. — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 71 (+9 more)
Broader Connections
- Knowledge of logical canons enables the detection of misleading legal arguments
#expands(0.75) — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 97 - Sound legal arguments require both valid reasoning and true premises
#expands(0.65) — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 250 - Common law rules arise from comparing cases, not from tracing prior logic
#contradicts(0.60) — Burton, Steven J, An Introduction to Law and Legal…, 222 - Legal analogy requires a theoretical basis rather than mere perception
#expands(0.55) — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 608 - Deductive legal reasoning requires identifying the controlling major premise.
#corroborates(0.50) — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 751