ABSTRACT
Through a discussion of Wittgenstein’s and Derrida’s thoughts, a view on meaning can be developed that can be used as a starting point when considering legal interpretation. It is not claimed that this is the only plausible view on meaning, but it might be the best and most realistic one that we have in contemporary philosophy. However, the problem that lies at the heart of this book, the question of meaning in law, is not solved by the theories put forward by these philosophers. Vagueness and undecidability always haunt meaning, as is shown in the analysis of these philosophers. This causes severe problems for legal interpretation, problems that can only be unravelled through a shift in focus, which takes place towards the end of this book.
