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13 - What Does It Mean…

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2022

Tommaso Soave
Affiliation:
Central European University, Budapest
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Summary

This chapter concludes the discussion of interpretation by focusing on the emotions and mental processes of the interpreter. Each case presents at least one dilemma that cannot be solved through pure legal deduction. What options, then, does the interpreter have? First, they will seek the illusory comfort of legal objectivity, and convince themselves that the answer is out there, buried somewhere in the record. But it is not. Second, the interpreter will try to exercise responsible agency and provide an answer that best resonates with their ethical or political commitments. But the interpreter does not really know which interpretive outcome is preferable. Third, the interpreter will turn to the standard practices of the community and write pages upon pages of corollary analysis, hoping that the intractable issue will magically vanish. Finally, the interpreter will stick to their decision and defend it as the sole logical solution.

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The Everyday Makers of International Law
From Great Halls to Back Rooms
, pp. 245 - 255
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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  • What Does It Mean…
  • Tommaso Soave, Central European University, Budapest
  • Book: The Everyday Makers of International Law
  • Online publication: 03 November 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009248013.014
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  • What Does It Mean…
  • Tommaso Soave, Central European University, Budapest
  • Book: The Everyday Makers of International Law
  • Online publication: 03 November 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009248013.014
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • What Does It Mean…
  • Tommaso Soave, Central European University, Budapest
  • Book: The Everyday Makers of International Law
  • Online publication: 03 November 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009248013.014
Available formats
×