Metaphenomena in Law: the Structure, Elements, Methodological Aspects, Optimization of Interaction between Theoretical and Meta-Theoretical Levels

Abstract

The science in general and the legal science in particular have different levels of knowledge and cognition: empirical, theoretical, meta-theoretical. Of particular interest is the interaction between theoretical and meta-theoretical levels, as understanding of this process will allow us to approach the understanding of the boundaries of scientific and non-scientific thinking, to distinguish between theory of law and philosophy of law within or beyond the general theory of law. The studies in this field are complicated by the lack of development of metalinguistic means in jurisprudence. Problem issues in this area include the structure of metalinguistic means, their elements, and the relationship with methodology, optimization of interaction between theoretical and meta-theoretical levels. As an innovative tool for studying metalinguistic means, it is possible to use the concept of “boundary of meanings.” Legal phenomena may be influenced by the “boundary of meanings,” in the area of which the uncertainty factor increases. Some phenomena “originate” from the “boundary of meanings,” in connection with which they constantly experience a crisis of self-identification. Blurring of boundaries entails a crisis of self-identification; establishing hard boundaries absolutizes dogmatic principles.The structure of metalinguistic means is represented at two levels: legal metaphenomena of the theoretical level and legal metaphenomena of the philosophical level. Metaphenomena of various levels are in a state of interaction. Philosophical level metaphenomena affect the perception of theoretical level metafenomena; they can correct or significantly alter their content. Metaphenomena of the theoretical level, experiencing crisis states, entail changes in the metaphenomena of the philosophical level (changing the legal paradigms, changing the style of legal thinking, etc.).The study of the issue of optimization of interaction between theoretical and philosophical levels of the legal science with due regard to the heuristic potential of legal metafenomena as a conceptual apparatus of the boundary of meanings combining the theory of law and its philosophy, will allow us to approach the resolution of the question of searching for criteria of scientific and extra-scientific thinking.