The Concept of Living Law in the Sociology of Eugen Ehrlich

Ahmet Özalp

Article Details

The Concept of Living Law in the Sociology of Eugen Ehrlich

Authors:

Ahmet Özalp

Publisher:

Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Main Topics:

Sosyoloji (Diğer)

Journal:

Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 1, pp.14-36

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001313233

pISSN:

2147-8171

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The concept of living law is frequently used in the literature of legal sociology. However, there is still a debate about what this concept means and what it encompasses among legal scholars and sociologists. Eugen Ehrlich, who first used the concept of living law, often emphasized that law is not only composed of written rules but should also encompass social and cultural forms, and norms generated by other forms of life. Since social norms change relative to time and region, these changes also differentiate other legal rules. An action that is legally accepted in one society may be seen as illegal in another. Rules that were considered in line with norms by society in any historical period change over time. The concept of living law is discussed on the basis that traces of old rules are present in norms formed as a result of this change. In living law, all rules, whether written or unwritten, arise from the differences in the values and norms of societies. Therefore, written law must take into account a societys traditions and values. When this is not taken into consideration by lawmakers and interpreters, societal norms conflicting with written law force society to act according to its own norms and values. This study was conducted using a literature review technique. Starting from Ehrlichs works, the aim was to make a sociological analysis of the bridge established between law and sociology. The study was limited by taking into account the written works on living law debates. In addition, the sources in the literature discussing this subject were evaluated comparatively. In the study, it was concluded that the content of the living law concept actually stems from the rules produced by social groups to maintain internal order. These rules, even if they are not in writing even if they are not found in positive legal texts, are understood as a legal order that dominates all aspects of social life. In addition, living law is understood as a legal sociological approach developed as rules produced by societal life and interaction, rather than the state.

 The concept of living law is frequently used in the literature of legal sociology. However, there is still a debate about what this concept means and what it encompasses among legal scholars and sociologists. Eugen Ehrlich, who first used the concept of living law, often emphasized that law is not only composed of written rules but should also encompass social and cultural forms, and norms generated by other forms of life. Since social norms change relative to time and region, these changes also differentiate other legal rules. An action that is legally accepted in one society may be seen as illegal in another. Rules that were considered in line with norms by society in any historical period change over time. The concept of living law is discussed on the basis that traces of old rules are present in norms formed as a result of this change. In living law, all rules, whether written or unwritten, arise from the differences in the values and norms of societies. Therefore, written law must take into account a societys traditions and values. When this is not taken into consideration by lawmakers and interpreters, societal norms conflicting with written law force society to act according to its own norms and values. This study was conducted using a literature review technique. Starting from Ehrlichs works, the aim was to make a sociological analysis of the bridge established between law and sociology. The study was limited by taking into account the written works on living law debates. In addition, the sources in the literature discussing this subject were evaluated comparatively. In the study, it was concluded that the content of the living law concept actually stems from the rules produced by social groups to maintain internal order. These rules, even if they are not in writing even if they are not found in positive legal texts, are understood as a legal order that dominates all aspects of social life. In addition, living law is understood as a legal sociological approach developed as rules produced by societal life and interaction, rather than the state.

 The concept of living law is frequently used in the literature of legal sociology. However, there is still a debate about what this concept means and what it encompasses among legal scholars and sociologists. Eugen Ehrlich, who first used the concept of living law, often emphasized that law is not only composed of written rules but should also encompass social and cultural forms, and norms generated by other forms of life. Since social norms change relative to time and region, these changes also differentiate other legal rules. An action that is legally accepted in one society may be seen as illegal in another. Rules that were considered in line with norms by society in any historical period change over time. The concept of living law is discussed on the basis that traces of old rules are present in norms formed as a result of this change. In living law, all rules, whether written or unwritten, arise from the differences in the values and norms of societies. Therefore, written law must take into account a societys traditions and values. When this is not taken into consideration by lawmakers and interpreters, societal norms conflicting with written law force society to act according to its own norms and values. This study was conducted using a literature review technique. Starting from Ehrlichs works, the aim was to make a sociological analysis of the bridge established between law and sociology. The study was limited by taking into account the written works on living law debates. In addition, the sources in the literature discussing this subject were evaluated comparatively. In the study, it was concluded that the content of the living law concept actually stems from the rules produced by social groups to maintain internal order. These rules, even if they are not in writing even if they are not found in positive legal texts, are understood as a legal order that dominates all aspects of social life. In addition, living law is understood as a legal sociological approach developed as rules produced by societal life and interaction, rather than the state.

 Yaşayan hukuk kavramı hukuk sosyolojisi literatüründe sıklıkla kullanılmaktadır. Ancak, bu kavramın hukukçular ve sosyologlar arasında ne anlama geldiği ve neleri içerdiği halen tartışma konusudur. Yaşayan hukuk kavramını ilk kez kullanan Eugen Ehrlich, çoğunlukla hukukun sadece yazılı kurallardan oluşmadığını buna ek olarak toplumsal normları, kültürel formları ve diğer yaşam biçimlerinin meydana getirdiği normları da içermesi gerektiğini ifade etmiştir. Toplumsal normlar zamansal ve bölgesel açıdan göreceli olarak değiştiği için bu değişimler diğer hukuk kurallarını da farklılaştırmaktadır. Bir toplumda yasal olarak kabul edilen bir eylem başka bir toplumda yasa dışı olarak görülmektedir. Tarihi dönemlerin herhangi birinde toplum tarafından norma uygun olarak görünen kurallar zamanla değişim göstermektedir. Bu değişimin etkisiyle oluşan normlarda eski kuralların da izlerinin bulunduğu yaşayan hukuk kavramı temelinde tartışılmaktadır. Yaşayan hukukta bütün kurallar, yazılı ya da yazısız olsun, toplumların değerleri ve normlarındaki farklılaşmadan doğmaktadır. Bu nedenle yazılı hukuk toplumun geleneklerini ve değerlerini de dikkate almak zorundadır. Yasa koyucular ve yorumlayıcıları tarafından bu durum dikkate alınmadığı zaman yazılı hukukla çelişen toplumsal yaşam normları toplumu kendi norm ve değerlerine göre hareket etmek zorunda bırakmaktadır. Bu çalışma literatür tarama tekniğine göre yapılmıştır. Ehrlichin eserlerinden yola çıkarak hukuk ve sosyoloji arasında kurulan köprünün sosyolojik analizini yapmayı amaç edinmiştir. Çalışma, yaşayan hukuk tartışmaları konusundaki yazılı eserleri dikkate alarak sınırlandırılmıştır. Buna ek olarak, literatürde bu konu hakkındaki tartışmaların yapıldığı kaynaklar karşılaştırılmalı olarak değerlendirilmeye çalışılmıştır. Çalışmada, yaşayan hukuk kavramının içeriğinin aslında sosyal grupların iç düzenini sağlamaya yönelik ürettikleri kurallardan doğduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Bu kurallar, yazılı olmasa dahi pozitif hukuk metinlerinde de yer almasa bile toplumsal hayatın tüm yönlerine hâkim olan hukuki düzen olarak anlaşılmaktadır. Ek olarak yaşayan hukuk, devletin değil toplumsal yaşamın ve etkileşimin ürettiği kurallar olarak geliştirilmiş bir hukuk sosyolojisi yaklaşımı olarak anlaşılmaktadır.

Article Details

The Concept of Living Law in the Sociology of Eugen Ehrlich

Authors:

Ahmet Özalp

Publisher:

Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Main Topics:

Sosyoloji (Diğer)

Journal:

Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 1, pp.14-36

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001313233

pISSN:

2147-8171

Living Law

Sociology

Social Norm

Social Order

CultureYaşayan Hukuk

Sosyoloji

Toplumsal Norm

Toplumsal Düzen

Kültür

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Ahmet Özalp

Publisher: Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Main Topics: Sosyoloji (Diğer)

Journal: Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 1, pp.14-36

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 3/2024

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001313233

pISSN: 2147-8171

Issues

Authors:

Ahmet Özalp

Publisher:

Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Main Topics:

Sosyoloji (Diğer)

Journal:

Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 1, pp.14-36

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001313233

pISSN:

2147-8171