Introduction
The concept of a norm of competence is central to the contemporary legal theory conceptual apparatus. It is also of paramount importance in day-to-day legal practice as a presupposition for the assessment of the legal validity of legislative, judicial, or administrative norms and decisions, as well as of contracts and promises. Norms of competence (hereinafter “NC”) have, however, been immersed amidst controversy for several years. Although there is an overlapping consensus on NC serving the purpose of conferring upon a given subject the ability, or aptitude, to change the legal positions of certain subjects (Hohfeld 1917; Lindahl 1977), theoretical disagreements persist on the nature of such norms.
Preliminary Precisions
To Hold and to Exercise Competence
It is common knowledge that “p holding competence over q” and “p exercising competence over q” are two different states of affairs. To hold competence is a relatively stable legal position; to exercise it is an...
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Lopes, P.M. (2018). Competence Norms, Nature of. In: Sellers, M., Kirste, S. (eds) Encyclopedia of the Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6730-0_223-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6730-0_223-1