Law and Practical Rationality

WP5 main objectives are to: 1) Gain a comprehensive overview on the topic of the law and practical rationality; 2) Assess the current state of art on the topic, paying special attention to the developments (or lack of) from Serbia and Western Balkans; 3) Give both basic and advanced knowledge on classic and contemporary practical philosophy; 4) Give both basic and advanced knowledge on classic and contemporary discourses about rationality, intention, and human action; 5) Give both basic and advanced knowledge on topics related to practical rationality applied to the study of law, such as practical reasoning, contemporary reasons for action theory, normativity, and authority of law; and 6) Set the basis for further and innovative autonomous research on the topic of the language of law and connected fields of study.

Target/stakeholders: I) Belgrade Affiliated Staff (Scholars); II) Non-Belgrade Affiliated Scholars; III) Scientific communities (legal theorists, practical philosophers); IV) Jurists in a wide sense; V) General Public.

T.5.1. Preliminary needs assessment: For a detailed task description see T.3.1, modified with the WP enphasis on law and practical rationality: classic and contemporary practical philosophy, classic and contemporary discourses about rationality, intention, and human action, practical reasoning, contemporary reasons for action theory, normativity, and authority of law.

T.5.2. Research activities: creation of a reading and research group: For detailed task description see T.3.2.

T.5.3. Research activities: literature review: For a detailed description see T.3.3., modified according to WP topic to survey the classical and current state-of-art literature on 1) law and practical rationality in general; 2) practical philosophy; 3) discourses about rationality, intention, and human action; 4) practical reasoning; 5) reasons for action theory; 6) normativity; and 7) authority of law.

T.5.4. Research activities: expert visits and student seminars: For detailed task description see T.3.4. with exchanges being between US and BGL.

T.5.5. Research activities: collaborate research and publications: For detailed task description see T.3.5. with collaborate research between US and BGL.

T.5.6. Periodical meetings: For detailed task description see T.3.6.

T.5.7. Research visits in Surrey and Belgrade: At least two periods for visiting researchers shall be dedicated to proving intensively personal knowledge and skills about the language of law. The target of these research visits will be selected among both early-career and senior researchers from the University of Belgrade and the University of Surrey, depending on their specific interests and curriculum. The length of each research visit will be decided in a case-by-case basis, ranging from one to three months. The occasion of each research visit will also be decided in a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration not only the specific profile and interests of the researcher. One research period for one or two Surrey researchers in Belgrade is planned for Year 2; and two potential research period for one or two Belgrade researchers are projected for Years 2 and 3.

T.5.8. Blog posts and short video lessons: The working group will produce both blog posts and short video lessons on different topics about law and practical rationality, and derivate questions and approaches. These blog posts and short video lessons will be uploaded to ALF-WP for dissemination purposes. For more details, see T.3.8.

T.5.9. First Law and Practical Rationality Workshop: This 6-speaker intensive workshop will address researchers, scholars, and students (both affiliated to Belgrade or not) but will be also open to jurists in a wide sense. The workshop will take place in Surrey in Year 2 and will make sure Belgrade scholars are represented between the main speakers. The workshop the conference will be streaming through ALF-WP and ALF-OSN.

T.5.10. Second Law and Practical Rationality Workshop: This 6-speaker intensive workshop will address researchers, scholars, and students (both affiliated to Belgrade or not) but will be also open to jurists in a wide sense. The workshop will take place in Belgrade in Year 3 and will be streaming through ALF-WP and ALF-OSN.