Metaphysics of Legal Facts

This Element tackles the question of how - in what way and in virtue of what - facts about the legal properties and relations of particulars (such as their rights duties powers etc.) are metaphysically explained. This question is divided into two separate issues. First the Element focuses on the nature of the explanatory relation connecting legal facts to their metaphysical determinants. Second it looks into the kinds of entities that figure in the explanation of legal facts. In doing so special attention is paid to the role that laws or legal norms play in such explanations. As it turns out there are different ways in which legal facts might be explained all of which have something to be said in their favor and none of which is immune from problems. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.