ABSTRACT
It was Carl Schmitt who coined the term decisionism in order to characterize political theories with at least three features in common: they attribute central importance to decision in political matters; they conceive of sovereignty as the ultimate power of decision; and, finally, they see in the exceptional state the purest manifestation as well as the model of operation of that ultimate power. All main points of the decisionist creed are polemical and heavily loaded politically. Every time Schmitt mentions decision, he identifies it with the function or the manifestation of will. Decision is juxtaposed to discussion, to the application of rules, and finally, to the implementation of the results of a scientific inquiry. The first juxtaposition is a fierce attack against liberalism, the second a challenge to both liberalism and positivism, and the third serves as the refutation of positivism.
