| 释义 |
metalaw|ˈmɛtəlɔː|
[f. meta- 1 + law n.1]
A hypothetical legal code based on the principles underlying existing legal codes and designed to provide a framework of agreement between diverse legal systems (orig. conceived as between terrestrial and possible extra-terrestrial beings); so metaˈlegal a., of questions, etc.: pertaining to the basic principles underlying legal systems or upon which laws are formulated.
1956N.Y. Times 20 Sept. 12/3 Andrew G. Haley..sought to codify some general principles of space law or ‘metalaw’ as he called it, by analogy to metaphysics. 1956A. G. Haley (title) The present day developments in space law and the beginnings of metalaw. 1957Observer 20 Oct. 14/4 Still more tricky are the laws which should govern our relations with any extra-terrestrial intelligent beings we may meet. Here, something which Mr. Haley [an American lawyer] calls ‘Metalaw’ must prevail. 1959Benn & Peters Social Princ. & Democratic State iii. 58 What criteria must a rule satisfy to be a valid law?.. How are legal rules related to particular decisions..? These questions..involve analysis of the formal structure of a legal system, and of the relation between norms of different levels of generality; they might be termed metalegal questions. 1969New Scientist 2 Jan. 36/3 The legal aspects of space—what is now called ‘metalaw’—a subject that has an interest of its own. 1971G. Schwarzenberger Internat. Law & Order iv. 29 Alleged rules of international jus cogens which are based on no other evidence than postulates of natural law or other metalegal norms must be ignored on the level of lex lata. |