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(Bilingual edition)
del Rosario. Veintinueve aos despus hemos decidido publicarlo de nuevo, en versin bilinge, junto
a una breve introduccin crtica que el lector encontrar a continuacin. Esperamos que con esta
pblico internacional.
In 1988, Nicols Gmez Dvila agreed to publish De Iure in the University del Rosario magazine.
Twenty-nine years later, we have decided to publish it again, in a bilingual version, along with a
brief critical introduction. We hope that with the English translation of De Iure, Colombian
philosophy in general, and Gmez Dvilas thought in particular, will be more readily available
abroad.
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Introduccin Introduction
a. Nicols Gmez Dvila es un pensador a. Nicols Gmez Dvila is known for his
escribe desde una perspectiva religiosa, from a religious perspective, nor is his
central del texto. A partir de all, el of this text. From there, the author
naturaleza verdadera del derecho, la law, justice and the state, at least
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como Justus Mser, tambin hace una
monrquico.
c. Para explicarnos lo anterior, comienza c. To explain the above, the author starts
porque como el bogotano seala en sus like the Colombian says in his Escolios,
d. Gmez Dvila mismo est animado por d. Gmez Dvila himself is motivated by
al derecho positivo. Nos deja muy claro, positive law. He makes clear, however,
sin embargo, que no se trata de un mero that this is not a mere intellectual
verdadero, cmo saber cul es la know which one is the true justice?
justicia verdadera? Cmo saber cul es How do we know which one is the
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rebelarnos contra el orden actual? rebel against the current order?
forma de entender el problema. Nos dice way of thinking the issue. He says that
que el Derecho, la Justicia y el Estado Law, Justice and the State are
por tanto, no juega ningn papel transcendent, therefore, does not play
fundamental aqu. El derecho no viene a fundamental role here. Law does not
justicia no es una espada divina, sino divine sword, but obedience to the
derecho. Finalmente, el estado es la law. Finally, the state is the legal rule
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g. El colombiano duda de la posibilidad de g. The Colombian doubts the possibility
acuerdo, y por eso no necesita un tutor have any authority. It suffices that we
que estemos obligados a obedecer. En Therefore, Law, Justice and the State,
voluntades divinas.
h. Gmez Dvila resuelve que el derecho h. Gmez Dvila concludes that natural
natural no es derecho. El derecho solo law is not real law. True Law is born
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ideolgico explica la inconsistencia inconsistency of natural law: it always
i. Niega entonces Gmez Dvila que en i. Does Gmez Dvila deny that in just
los actos justos haya belleza o bien en el acts we can encounter beauty or
caso determinado la regla de derecho in a case the legal rule that emanates
que emana del convenio nos ordena ser from the agreement orders us to be
leales. En ese caso, la justicia consistira loyal. In that case, justice would
en obedecer dicha regla. Gmez Dvila consist in the obedience of that rule.
un valor trascendente, pero nos dice que in itself is a transcendent value, but he
valor. Un acto nos puede deslumbrar from its value. An act can dazzle us
por la belleza que encarna, pero su with its beauty, but its juridicity and
derecho.
j. La objecin ms obvia que se le puede j. The most obvious objection one can
Gmez Dvila lo saba. Por eso nos dice Evidently, Gmez Dvila knew this.
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al final que nadie inventa su derecho, He tells us that no one invents law,
sujetos de derecho: viven entre normas already inserted in the law: they live
y reglas a las que obedecen. Su amongst rules that they obey. Their
insercin dentro del derecho no depende participation in the world of law does
consentimiento implcito a las reglas que the implicit assent to the rules that
acumulan reglas a las que convenimos rules when we assent to them. Indeed,
cuando las consentimos. En efecto, para for Gmez Dvila true historical law is
e implcito.
queremos pertenecer a tal o cual estado. government. We have been born into a
condicin de obediencia. Una objecin that vein can be used against Gmez
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Dvila: nadie ha consentido deliberately to the law of its society.
Nadie nos ha preguntado si queremos obey this or that system of law. One is
implcito que segn Gmez Dvila hace legitimizes true law, therefore, cannot
obediencia.
l. La objecin que planteara Hegel al l. The objection that Hegel posed to the
contrato social tambin sirve para idea of a social contract could also be
Dvila: los sujetos libres, jurdicamente narrative: the free, juridically equal,
presupone son exactamente los sujetos agreement presupposes are exactly the
por eso Gmez Dvila dice que nadie course, thats why Gmez Dvila says
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su hiptesis es lgicamente agreements. Yet his hypothesis is still
doubtful?
psicoanlisis. Esta teora plantea que psychoanalysis. This theory poses the
toda sociedad se funda sobre una idea that all societies are based on a
mediante la que intenta lidiar con la through which they try to disavow the
la mentira del convenio nos permite case, the lie of the agreement allows us
vivir con el origen sangriento y violento to deal with the bloody and violent
mediante la que todo orden jurdico se agreement. And the violence through
consensus.
n. Los sujetos reprimen los orgenes n. Subjects repress the violent origins of
violentos del derecho proponiendo una Law by proposing a Truth behind Law
Verdad detrs del derecho mismo a la itself to which they can transfer their
que pueden transferir su fe. El derecho faith. Law has power precisely
tiene poder precisamente por esta because of this truth: in this case, that
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Verdad: en este caso, que lo jurdico es the juridical is agreement. Gmez
convenio. Gmez Dvila seala Dvila points out correctly that the
o. As pues, el punto aqu es que preciso o. So, the point here is that it is
para que el orden jurdico pueda entrar agreement for the juridical order to
derecho. l mismo no pretende inventar to invent the thesis that he poses, but
su tesis, sino que la extrae del mismo he extracts it from language, from
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necesaria de los sistemas jurdicos.
resulta ser el rgimen jurdico donde las the juridical regime where majorities
jurdica que pertenece a todos los sovereignty that really belongs to all
apresura a sealar que ninguna de las the Colombian points out that one side
dos partes puede atribuirse la soberana cannot claim for itself the complete
su antojo, porque eso significa que no because that automatically means that
soberanas: no puede ser que una sovereign wills. If one decides to be the
sobre la otra. Si una decide que ser la there is no pact. When democracy
no hay convenio. Cuando otorga a las sovereignty that belongs to all parties,
consecuencia lgica de su
democrtico.
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q. Su definicin jurdica de la democracia q. Gmez Dvilas juridical definition of
parece ser cierta, pero hay algo que no democracy appears to be true, but
jurdicos anteriores, eso significa que la previous juridical systems, that means
democracia funciona como todo otro democracy functions like every other
impone su voluntad jurdica a la otra imposes its juridical will on the other
parte para crear un nuevo sistema and creates a new juridical system.
jurdico.
r. Ahora bien, incluso si Gmez Dvila r. But even if Gmez Dvila conceded to
concediese ese punto, sealara que la this argument, he would point out that
sobre otra. Mientras otros sistemas son rest. While legitimate systems are
nueva ley es una imposicin de la rest. But at least we can argue that
mayora sobre los dems. Pero al menos liberal democracies have procedures
podemos sealar que las democracias that alleviate the weight of the
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aliviar el peso de las mayoras sobre los the minorities.
s. Gmez Dvila anota al final que la s. At the end, Gmez Dvila says that
historia extrae de las canteras sombras history extracts from sombre stone pits
las estatuas que erige sobre las the statues that it erects on the
democrticas son las canteras sombras the sombre stone pits that give us the
que nos dan los materiales para materials for building the most
acrpolis.
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De Iure
Manibus Henry Ireton Commissary Manibus Henry Ireton Commissary General
General of the army in memoriam putneianae of the army in memoriam putneianae controversiae
controversiae 28 October 1647 Sacrum. 28 October 1647 Sacrum.
Y as construye una consecuencia tory...sobre And thus, he builds a tory consequence...on a whig
una premisa whig... foundation...
(Essays -ed. Green and Grose- 1640) (Essays -ed. Green and Grose- 1640)
1. Cuando hablamos del Derecho, de la Justicia, 1. When we speak about Law, Justice and the State, it
del Estado, no es fcil saber de qu se habla. is not easy to know what we speak of.
enunciados tericos, de preceptos ticos, de statements, ethical precepts, practical rules, and
3. La doble naturaleza del derecho, la equivoca 3. The double nature of law, the equivocal function of
funcin de la justicia, la juridicidad ambigua del justice, the juridical ambiguity of the State, confuse
encrespa, levanta, y alborota esos temas con la raises, and excites these themes with the eloquence
sentimentales.
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5. Nuestro embrollo intelectual, sin embargo, no 5. However, our intellectual mess is not the result of a
resulta de un estado de ignorancia fcilmente state of ignorance easily overcome, but of the radical
remediable, sino de la dificultad radical tanto de difficulty of refuting or vindicating the existence of
6. Resolver si las nociones de Derecho, de Justicia, 6. To resolve whether the notions of Law, Justice, and
y de Estado, designan simplemente hechos que the State simply designate facts that occur or also
acontecen, o tambin hechos que valen, es el facts that have value is the problem that gives rise
problema que suscita y motiva la teora jurdica. to and motivates juridical theory.
7. En efecto, el problema de una validez del 7. Indeed, the problem of the validity of law, distinct
derecho, distinta del hecho escueto de su from the plain fact of its force and effect, can
vigencia, puede eclipsarse a veces, pero no se sometimes be eclipsed, but it is not extinguished.
extingue.
8. Desde la invocacin griega a una ley no escrita 8. From the Greek invocation of an unwritten law to
alemana sobre la naturaleza de la cosa, la tesis jurisprudence about the nature of the thing, natural
iusnaturalista, en sus mltiples encarnaciones, law, in its multiple incarnations, keeps awake
desvela el pensamiento europeo y llena la European thought and fills the history of the West.
historia de occidente.
9. La positividad de la ley parece no bastar. 9. The positivity of law does not seem sufficient. It
Parece que, sobre la norma legal que rige los seems that, above the legal norm that governs the
actos, debiera regir una norma justa. acts, a just norm should govern.
10. Un dilogo sin fin sobre el magno asunto se 10. A dialogue without end about this great problem
aristotelismo se precisan las rutinas Aristotelianism, the conceptual routines of its future
conceptuales de su elaboracin futura; y, entre elaboration are fixed. And in the Hellenistic schools,
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contractualista a los publicistas venideros, el awakens the notion of a transcendental criterion in
juristas imperiales.
11. Autorizados por una breve reminiscencia 11. Authorized by a small reminiscence of Stoicism in
estoica en las epstolas paulinas, los padres de the Pauline epistles, the fathers of the Western
la Iglesia de occidente plasman, en la pasta de Church imprinted in the paste of Ciceronian texts a
textos ciceronianos, una doctrina que propagan doctrine that Hispalensiss etymologies propagate,
las etimologas del Hispalense y que, reforzada and that, reinforced by the restorative gesture of
por el gesto restaurador de Irnerio, se articula y Irnerius, articulates itself and culminates in a
12. Ni el realismo de polticos renacentistas, ni la 12. Neither the realism of Renaissance politicians, nor
teora post-lapsaria de los telogos luteranos, the post-lapsarian theory of Lutheran theologians,
logran extirpar el iusnaturalismo que comparten can extirpate the natural law that Calvinist
solidariamente, folicularios calvinistas, frailes pamphleteers, Dominican friars, and Jesuit fathers
13. El derecho natural, al contrario, desembarazado 13. On the contrary, freed from its theological anchor by
de su anclaje teolgico por expertas manos expert Dutch hands, natural law appropriates over
holandesas, se aduea durante dos siglos de two centuries all juridical speculation, until finding
toda especulacin jurdica, hasta encontrar su its more noble and pure expression in Kantian
ms pura y noble expresin en el pensamiento thought and its more ironical frustration in the
proscripciones revolucionarias.
14. Durante el siglo XIX, el derecho natural 14. During the 19th century, natural law languishes
languidece entre una burguesa que lo explota between a bourgeoisie that exploits it for its own
ideolgica. Sin embargo, ni el doctrinarismo Nevertheless, the liberal doctrine does not merely
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liberal disfraza meramente intereses, ni los conceal interests, nor can the diverse forms of
diversos socialismos logran disimular, bajo sus socialism conceal, behind their sociological
planteamientos sociolgicos, la sensibilidad approach, the natural law sensibilities that stimulate
15. En ese clima inclemente, la literatura jurdica 15. In that rough climate, juridical literature swings
16. As, a pesar de los atisbos geniales de Savigny, 16. Therefore, even with the brilliant hints of Savigny,
los juristas alemanes solo supieron enfrentar un German jurists only knew how to put forward a
positivismo estatal al literalismo legal de los state positivism against the legal formalism of
civilistas clsicos franceses. An en la nacin French classical civilists. Even in the nation that
que propag el contractualismo liberal, entre los propagated liberal contractualism, amid the vestiges
el positivismo de los juristas cesreos florece, a positivism flourishes, under the shadow of Hobbes,
la ley.
17. La importancia del pensamiento jurdico del 17. The importance of the centurys juridical thought
siglo descansa sobre su otra vertiente: tanto en rests on its other strand: in the systematic task of
la tarea sistemtica de los pandectistas, que the pandectists, which crystallizes in the edifice of
cristaliza en el edificio de Windscheid, como en Windscheid, and in the admirable historical labour
Gierke, o un Maitland.
18. Sin embargo, el exnime derecho natural 18. But an exhausted natural law still survives the
embestida de Bergbohm, para renacer vigoroso reborn vigorously among jurists, in the late century,
entre los juristas, en las postrimeras del siglo, at the edge of the solitary and fascinating
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del iusnaturalismo neo-tomista.
19. Derecho natural de contenido variable, regla de 19. Natural law with variable content, legal rule,
derecho, filosofa del derecho, ciencia del philosophy of law, legal science: in Halle, in
Nancy, el derecho natural germina en el lecho germinates in the soil of formalism, neo-Kantian
del formalismo o del moralismo neokantiano, moralism, sociological doctrinarism, and late-
Vecchio, Gny.
20. El derecho natural recobra, una vez ms, 20. Natural law regains, once more, juridical
iusnaturalismo existencial.
21. Sin duda, los positivistas denuncian el singular 21. Without a doubt, positivists denounce the temporal
sabor temporal de sus normas intemporales; sin flavour of its timeless norms; without a doubt,
duda, el historiador observa sus fundamentos historians observe its intuitive, sociological,
intuitivos, sociolgicos, axiolgicos, o formales, axiological and formal fundaments dissolve in time
disolverse en el tiempo con la misma fluidez que with the same fluidity of 13th-century scholastics,
las evidencias racionales de los escolsticos del 18th-century philosophers, and 19th-century
siglo XIII, de los filsofos del siglo XVIII, o de liberals rational evidences. Yet, even with the
los liberales del siglo XIX; pero no obstante la obstinacy of its critics and the increasing moderation
perdura.
22. Basta que un jurista se interrogue sobre su 22. It suffices that a jurist asks about his profession, or
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oficio, o que una leve ruptura de rutinas sacuda that a small disruption of routines agitate a nations
la conciencia de un pueblo, para que el problema conscience, for the problem of the validity of law to
de la validez del derecho surja intacto, frente a rise intact against the crude validity of the law.
23. La inestabilidad de la nocin de derecho 23. The instability of the notion of law drags, evidently,
arrastra, evidentemente, los dems conceptos all other related concepts to the same shifting sands.
24. La Justicia que un miserable invoca desde el 24. The Justice that a miserable man invokes from his
lagar donde lo prensa su infortunio, no se place of oppression does not look like the Justice
parece a la Justicia que administra, entre that, between codes, a rosy magistrate administers.
cdigos, un magistrado rubicundo. Nadie sabe No one knows which one is the true Justice: is it the
cul es la Justicia verdadera: si la que orienta one that orients the political activities of
revolucionaria, o aquella cuyo reino constituye, for an illustrious jurist, the supreme finality of law?
para un jurista ilustre, la finalidad suprema del Or merely the one that erects the heaviness of a
derecho, o meramente la que erige su pesadez 19th-century statue above the acroterium of a
concepto? Una idea regulativa de la razn, o programme? Is it the notion that some divide into
un programa asequible? La nocin que los two or into three equal parts? Is it the formula of
unos bisecan y los otros trisecan? La frmula the Digest? An indefinable intuition? Or perhaps it
del Digesto? Una intuicin indefinible? o tal is the categorical imperative of Kantian ethics?
kantiana?
25. Finalmente se levanta el problema del Estado. 25. Finally, the problem of the State arises. A brute,
Hecho bruto, total, masivo, que tanto en sus total and massive fact that in its embryonic forms,
formas embrionarias, como en las de su plena as in its complete organic articulation, encompasses
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Estructura de mandatos coagulados en institutions which the individual encounters not only
instituciones que el individuo encuentra no slo like physical realities that channel him, but also like
como realidades carnales que lo encauzan, sino mental reflections that govern him.
26. Morada de todos nuestros actos, ciertamente, 26. A dwelling of all our acts, certainly, but a dwelling
pero morada que nuestros actos derrumban o that our acts demolish or construct. An objective
edifican. Ordenacin objetiva, pero asentada organization, but based on a scheme of personal
sobre una trama de opciones personales. choices. A fabric made of durable stone and yet a
Fbrica ptrea, y sin embargo proyecto que project that we must absolve and condemn in all
debemos absolver o condenar en todo instante. instants. It is a historical necessity, but also a
construccin jurdica.
27. Pero, cmo definir la naturaleza del estado, 27. But how to define the nature of the state when we
cuando no sabemos si engendra al derecho, o si dont know whether it engenders law, or whether
el derecho lo engendra? Qu es el derecho, por law engenders the state? What is law, by the way,
cierto, si sus tribunales no lo aplican? Y qu es if its tribunals dont administer it? And what is a
28. Tendr sentido interrogarnos sobre la 28. Would it make sense to interrogate ourselves about
legitimidad del poder pblico? O, ms bien, si the legitimacy of public power? Or rather, if the law
la ley es tan slo mandato soberano que el is only a sovereign mandate the sovereign being a
soberano sea monarca, Asamblea, o pueblo, monarch, an assembly, or the people doesnt imply
no implica la mera detentacin del poder su the mere holding of power its own autonomous
29. No basta, pues, limitar el estudio de la 29. It doesnt suffice, then, to limit the study of the
naturaleza del estado, de su funcin, y de su fin, nature of the state, its function, and its finality, to
ni siquiera confiarlo sumisamente a la historia. entrust it submissively to history. Maybe the former
Tal vez aquella logre, algn da, dibujarnos su will one day draw to us its intelligible model and the
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modelo inteligible, y sta seguramente puede latter will be able to describe to us the variety of its
describimos la variedad de sus formas y la forms and its relations complexity; but if we ignore
complejidad de sus relaciones, pero si the definition of its juridical nature, how can we opt
ignoramos la definicin de su naturaleza between submission and rebellion? And how can we
hacerlo?
30. Ningn problema, pues, ms autntico que el 30. There is no problem, then, more authentic than the
problema del Derecho, de la Justicia, del problem of Law, Justice, and the State, or more
Explicita o tcita, la solucin por la cual un the solution for which an individual opts governs the
individuo opta gobierna la cuota mayor de su greater part of his conduct; and the solution that an
conducta; y la solucin que adopta una sociedad entire society adopts determines its character, its
destino.
31. La gravedad del tema implica, por tanto, la 31. The gravity of the subject entails, therefore, an
trivialidad irremediable de la meditacin que irremediable triviality. Since all the possible
cualquiera le consagra. Como las posibles solutions to the problem are few and well known, he
soluciones del problema son escasas y todas who pretends originality only shows his ignorance.
denuncia su ignorancia.
32. Pero las pginas siguientes ni siquiera intentan 32. But the following pages dont even try to propose a
proponer una solucin vulgar y pedestre al vulgar solution to the quid est ius? of the jurist, or
quid est ius? del jurista, frente al quid est the quid est iuris? of the expert. They only expose
iuris? del perito. Tan slo exponen la the convenience of adopting determined semantic
conveniencia de adoptar determinadas reglas rules for the use of these themes. Furthermore, they
semnticas para el uso de esos temas. Por lo dont postulate with autonomy the rules that they
dems, tampoco postulan con autonoma las present, but suggest that they should be extracted
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reglas que presentan, sino sugieren que se from the hereditary mass of words, where tradition
medulares.
33. En efecto, para quien considera la inmensa 33. Indeed, for those who consider the immense
literatura de esos temas, en medio del acervo literature about these subjects, it is evident that
secular de tesis es evidente que ciertas lneas certain lines sketch the structure of a possible,
coherente. Basta segregar analticamente los analytically the diverse types of propositions there
diversos tipos de proposiciones all confundidos, confused, and to make explicit the implications of a
y volver explcitas las implicaciones de cierta certain thesis, yesterday illustrious, and today
tesis, ayer ilustre y hoy obsoleta, para ver el obsolete, to see the vocabulary of those subjects
constelaciones sistemticas.
34. La tesis autnomamente elige, entre las 34. The thesis autonomously picks, among the received
acepciones recibidas, aquellas que se construyen meanings, those that construct themselves
relaciones semnticas. La tesis, sin embargo, no relations. The thesis, nonetheless, does not decree
decreta la univocidad del vocabulario, sino la the univocity of the vocabulary, but discovers it
descubre latente en los vocablos. Tesis y latently in the words. Univocal thesis and words
vocablos unvocos expresan, pues, una misma express, then, the same intelligible organization.
ordenacin inteligible. La tesis resulta ser el The thesis turns out to be the mere outline of the
mero perfil de los vocablos, el simple esquema words, the simple abstract scheme of the semantic
35. Ni la tesis relevante, por lo tanto, ni el 35. Therefore, neither the relevant thesis, nor the
da. Productos milenarios del lenguaje, el millenary product of language, the discourse that
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discurso que engendran no es pronunciamiento they engender is not the discourse of a hermit, but
36. Por otra parte, el bosquejo de relaciones 36. On the other hand, the sketch of coherent relations
coherentes que el uso erstico de la tesis that the eristic use of the thesis deciphers in the
significados, parece ser expresin de una the expression of a structure irreducible to more
estructura irreductible a estructuras ms simple structures. The coherent discourse that the
necesario.
37. Pero si una funcin epistemolgica sustenta, 37. But if an epistemological function supports here the
aqu, la simple correccin semntica, un uso simple semantic correction, a correct a priori use
correcto existe a priori para un vocabulario exists for a similar vocabulary. And he who violates
discurso.
38. Las breves pginas que siguen seran, quizs, 38. Perhaps the brief pages that follow would be more
proceso metodolgico que las motiva. Pero methodological process that motivates them. But
acaso se consiga un ms lmpido dibujo, si en perhaps we can obtain a cleaner drawing if, rather
vez de escudriar la barahnda de acepciones than searching inside the mess of meanings where it
donde nace, exponemos el proceso, a la inversa, is born, we expose the process inversely, from its
I I
39. La teora del derecho, la teora de la justicia, y 39. The theory of law, the theory of justice, and the
la teora del estado, no son tres teoras theory of the state are not three distinct theories,
distintas, sino partes de una misma teora. but parts of the same theory. They are all parts of
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Todas son captulos de la teora jurdica. the juridical theory.
40. Derecho, Justicia y Estado, en efecto, ms que 40. Law, Justice, and the State, indeed, more than
fenmenos sociolgicos, ticos o polticos, son sociological, ethical, or political phenomena, are
prepondera, porque la nocin jurdica no es preponderates, because the juridical notion is not a
simple ensambladura de hechos sociolgicos, simple assembly of sociological, ethical, and political
41. Lo jurdico no es artificio del espritu para 41. The juridical is not an artifice of the spirit to
concepto.
42. Lo jurdico es, segn la postura radical que se 42. The juridical is, according to the radical posture that
Indiferentemente.
43. Por lo que existe una estructura jurdica (una 43. Because a juridical structure (a category) exists,
categora), derecho, justicia y estado, pueden law, justice, and the state can have sociological
revestir aspectos sociolgicos, plantear aspects, pose ethical problems, and irrupt in history.
44. Lo jurdico, como lo lgico, es categora 44. The juridical, like the logical, is an irreducible
irreductible del espritu, estructura irreductible category of the spirit, an irreducible structure of the
45. Si lo lgico, en efecto, est dado en el acto del 45. If the logical, indeed, is given in the act of the
sujeto que slo conoce objetos, lo jurdico est subject that only knows objects, the juridical is
dado en el acto del sujeto que reconoce otro given in the act that recognizes another subject.
sujeto.
46. En estos dos actos se agota el elenco de actos 46. In these two acts, all the possible types of acts are
posibles. El sujeto, en efecto, slo encuentra exhausted. The subject, indeed, only finds mere
ante s meros objetos, o encuentra otro sujeto objects, or finds another subject too. Its dilemma is
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tambin. Su dilema es nico: o todo es objeto unique: everything is an object for the subject, or
para el sujeto, o existe adems otro sujeto another subject exists too. Between the
objeto epistemolgico no hay ms relaciones object, there are no more conceivable formal
47. Acto solitario, all, de un sujeto que no conoce 47. A solitary act, there, of a subject that knows
sino objetos; acto, aqu, de un sujeto que nothing but objects; act, here, of a subject that
reconoce otro sujeto, pero que solamente lo recognizes another subject, but that solely
reconoce como tal, cuando no lo piensa recognizes it as such when it acts with it in
meramente, o sobre el acta, sino cuando acta solidarity, not when it merely thinks about it, or acts
48. Reconocer otro sujeto, en efecto, no es simple 48. To recognize another subject, indeed, is not a simple
actitud gnoseolgica, sino encuentro prctico, epistemological attitude, but a practical encounter,
porque en el encuentro terico slo encontramos because in the theoretical encounter we find only
objetos especficos. Un sujeto no conoce otro specific objects. A subject recognizes another
sujeto sino en el encuentro prctico en que lo subject only in the practical encounter in which it
49. Reconocer en un sujeto su naturaleza de sujeto, 49. To recognize in a subject its subject-nature consists
porque anticipadamente a toda determinacin before all possible determinations, and without
posible, y sin excepcin alguna, el sujeto es exception, the subject is a pure condition of logical
condicin pura de categorizacin lgica. La categorization. The nature of the object depends on
naturaleza del objeto depende de la categora en the category in which the subject puts it, but the
que el sujeto lo coloca, mientras que la nature of the subject is a liberty of putting it in any
50. Reconocer en un sujeto su naturaleza, por lo 50. To recognize in a subject its nature, therefore, does
tanto, no consiste en el acto terico de tratarlo not consist of the theoretical act of treating it as a
25
como objeto especfico, sino en el acto prctico specific object, but in the practical act of sharing
de compartir con l su funcin lgica, with it its logical function, constructing a system
51. El reconocimiento es acto prctico y solidario, 51. The recognition is a practical and solidary act,
anlogo al acto terico y solitario del analogous with the theoretical and solitary act of
categoras irreductibles la una a la otra, o a irreducible the one to the other, or to more simple
52. El acto solitario de un sujeto solo es el acto 52. The solitary act of a subject is the logical act; the
lgico; el acto solidario de dos sujetos distintos solidary act of two different subjects is the juridical
53. Lo jurdico, como lo lgico, es sistema formal. 53. The juridical, like the logical, is a formal system.
Lo jurdico y lo lgico son formas genricas de The juridical and the logical are the generic forms of
dos tipos de sistemas axiomticos formalizados. two types of axiomatic formalized systems.
54. Lo lgico es la forma genrica de aquellos 54. The logical is the generic form of those axiomatic
sistemas axiomticos formalizados cuyos and formalized systems in which the axioms are
axiomas pone un solo sujeto; lo jurdico es la posed by only one subject; the juridical is the
forma genrica de aquellos sistemas generic form of those axiomatic formalized systems
axiomticos formalizados cuyos axiomas ponen in which the axioms are posed by two different
sujeto; el axioma jurdico es acto solidario de 55. The logical axiom is the solitary act of one subject;
dos sujetos distintos. the juridical axiom is the solidary act of two
58. As como la forma lgica es coherencia del 57. The juridical is agreement.
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sujeto consigo mismo, as la forma jurdica es 58. Just like the logical form demands the coherence of
coherencia de dos sujetos entre s. the subject with itself, so the juridical form is the
59. Lo lgico es la necesidad de rechazar lo que 59. The logical is the necessity of rejecting what
contradiga al axioma postulado, porque contradicts the postulated axiom because admitting
admitirlo sera anular la postulacin, y equivale it would annul the postulation. It is the same as
hecho nada.
60. No importa que la materia del postulado sea 60. It doesnt matter that the postulate is a necessary
cualquier otra cosa, la evidencia es suceso else evidence is a private psychological event of
psicolgico privado de carcter compelente; compelling character. But if the choice of the
pero si la eleccin del postulado es libre, y si la postulate is free, and if the wills decision is
el raciocinio es coherencia estricta con el with the postulate, inviolable loyalty of the subject
postulado, inviolable lealtad del sujeto con la with the accepted postulation.
postulacin asumida.
61. Lo lgico es forma de la condicin ineludible 61. The logical is the unavoidable condition for the
para que el sujeto no anule su acto solitario. subject not to annul its solitary act.
62. Anlogamente, lo jurdico es forma de la 62. Analogously, the juridical is the unavoidable
condicin ineludible para que dos sujetos condition for subjects not to annul their solidary act.
63. Lo jurdico es la necesidad de rechazar lo que 63. The juridical is the necessity of rejecting what
contradiga al axioma convenido, porque contradicts the agreed axiom, because admitting it is
admitirlo sera anular el convenio, y equivale a the same as to have not agreed. It is the same as
hecho nada.
27
64. No importa que la materia del convenio sea 64. It doesnt matter that the matter of the agreement is
norma absoluta, mandato divino, precepto an absolute norm, divine mandate, technical precept,
tcnico, antojo caprichoso, o cualquier otra cosa capricious desire, or any other thing conviction is
carcter compelente; pero si la eleccin del but if the choice of the agreement is free, and if the
voluntades es soberano, en cambio la juridicidad however, is strict coherence with the agreement,
es coherencia estricta con lo convenido, inviolable loyalty of both subjects to the agreement
65. El convenio es obligacin de respetar lo 65. The agreement is an obligation of respecting what
66. En un sistema axiomtico formalizado, tanto la 66. In a formalized axiomatic system, the choice of
eleccin de los axiomas, como el sealamiento axioms and the rules for the transformation of the
de las reglas de trasformacin del sistema, system obey an obligatory single rule: axioms and
obedecen a una sola regla obligatoria: axiomas rules must be absolutely univocal.
67. El sistema axiomtico formalizado es, 67. A formalized axiomatic system is, basically, the
bsicamente, la univocidad de sus reglas y de univocity of its rules and axioms. The system is
sus axiomas. El sistema se anula, si los annulled if its meanings are altered.
significados se alteran.
68. Es inadmisible, as, que un sistema lgico 68. It is inadmissible, then, that a logical system
contenga reglas que permitan al sujeto alterar a contains rules that allow a subject to alter at its will
su arbitrio el significado de las reglas o de los the meaning of its rules and postulates. And it is
postulados. Y es inadmisible, tambin, que un inadmissible, too, that a juridical system has rules
sistema jurdico contenga reglas que permitan a that allow both subjects, or one of them, to alter at
ambos sujetos, o a uno solamente, alterar a su their will the meaning of its rules and agreements.
arbitrio el significado de las reglas o de los To propose the possibility of freely changing the
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convenios. Postular la alterabilidad libre de los postulated terms is to annul the postulation. To
trminos postulados es anular la postulacin; y agree to the freedom to change the agreed terms is
69. Para alterar los trminos de un sistema, es 69. To alter the terms of a system, it is obviously
obviamente necesario, en virtud del principio de necessary, in virtue of the principle of univocity, to
univocidad, abrogar el sistema vigente y abrogate the current system and to postulate, or to
70. Claro est que si all basta la decisin voluntaria 70. Of course, if there the voluntary decision of a
de un solo sujeto, aqu en cambio es preciso subject suffices, here, on the other hand, it is
obtener el acuerdo de voluntades de los dos necessary to obtain the agreement of two different
sujetos distintos; y, evidentemente, no basta la subjects; evidently, the will of one does not suffice.
71. Sera, por lo tanto, lgicamente absurdo y 71. It would be, therefore, logically absurd and
jurdicamente ilcito, admitir que entre dos juridically illicit to admit that between two subjects
sujetos se pueda convenir que uno de ellos ser it can be agreed that one of them will be free to alter
libre de alterar a su arbitrio el convenio, o de at its will the agreement, or to abrogate it at its will,
abrogarlo a su arbitrio, o de convenir a su or to agree the terms of a new agreement only with
arbitrio solo consigo mismo los trminos de un itself. For the agreement is the solidary act of two
convenio nuevo. Siendo el convenio, por different subjects, and it would thus be
definicin, acto solidario de dos sujetos contradictory to agree that it is the solitary act of
72. La nica regia obligatoria de todo convenio es 72. The only obligatory rule of any agreement is the one
la que prohbe convenir contra el convenio that forbids agreeing against the agreement.
mismo.
73. El convenio es obligacin de respetar el 73. The agreement is an obligation of respecting the
convenio. agreement.
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74. La categora jurdica pura consta, pues, de una 74. The pure juridical category is composed of an
76. II. El convenio es obligacin de respetar lo 76. II. The agreement is an obligation of respecting
77. III. El convenio es obligacin de respetar el 77. III. The agreement is an obligation of respecting the
convenio. agreement.
78. Definicin ostensiva y proposiciones 78. Ostensive definition and tautological propositions
tautolgicas son las reglas constitutivas de toda are the constitutive rules of all juridical
79. Jurdico es aquello que la primera regla 79. The juridical is that which the first rule constructs
construye y rige; derecho privado, lo que and governs; private law what constructs and
construye y rige la segunda; y derecho pblico, governs the second; and public law what constructs
80. Toda definicin distinta es ilcita. 80. All other definitions are illicit.
II II
81. Identificada ya la categora jurdica, los 81. Having identified the juridical category, the correct
significados correctos del Derecho, de la meanings of Law, Justice, and the State outline
82. Derecho es la regla de conducta que nace del 82. Law is the rule of conduct that is born of the
convenio. Justicia es la observancia de la regla agreement. Justice is the observance of the legal
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de derecho. Estado es la regla de derecho que rule. The state is the legal rule that assures the
asegura la observancia. Derecho, justicia, y observance. Law, justice, and the state, juridically
83. Si el derecho es la regla de conducta que nace 83. If the law is the rule of conduct that is born of the
del convenio, derecho objetivo es el conjunto agreement, objective law is the empirical set of legal
emprico de reglas de derecho, y derecho rules, and subjective law is the pretension that
subjetivo es la pretensin emanada de la regla a emanates from the rule to the provision that
la prestacin que la constituye. El derecho constitutes it. Objective law is the rule itself, and
objetivo es la regla misma, y el derecho subjective law is the consequence of the rule.
84. Merced al significado riguroso que adquiere as 84. Because of the rigorous meaning that the notion of
manera inmediata que todo derecho es derecho that all law is positive law, and simultaneously that
positivo, y, simultneamente, que todo es all is positive in law but the law itself.
85. En primer lugar, es evidente que todo derecho 85. In the first place, it is evident that all law is positive
es derecho positivo, porque suponer un derecho law because to suppose a natural law that precedes
natural anterior a la regla de derecho es una the legal rule contradicts the definition of law itself.
suposicin contradictoria con la definicin del All law is positive because the rule is born of an
derecho mismo. Todo derecho es positivo agreement, i.e., of a practical act positively done.
86. La validez de la regla no proviene de su 86. The validity of the rule does not derive of its
concordancia con las normas anglicas de un concordance with the angelic rules of a natural law,
derecho natural, sino de su carcter jurdico. Es but of its juridical character. In other words, it
decir: de su carcter de axioma convenido en el comes from its character as an axiom agreed in the
87. Para que la regla sea vlida, no importa cuales 87. For the rule to be valid, it doesnt matter which are
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sean los motivos del convenio, ni las conductas the motives of the agreement; nor does it matter
convenidas; ni para decretar su invalidez, que which are the agreed conducts. To decree its
infrinja normas ticas, o principios inmortales. invalidity, it doesnt matter that it infringes ethical
Su validez depende de su juridicidad sola, no de norms or immortal principles. Its validity depends
su afinidad con determinados prejuicios. La on its sole juridicity, not on its affinity with
criterios materiales para dogmatizar de iure character, and we lack material criteria to
ferendo, o de principios para conceptuar de iure dogmatize de iure ferendo, or of principles to judge
lato. Si una regla es formalmente vlida, la de iure lato. If a rule is formally valid, the
jurisdiccin sobre su validez material -sobre jurisdiction over its material value over the
la validez de su contenido compete slo a una validity of its contents rests only on a more
regla ms general del mismo sistema. general rule of the same system.
88. El supuesto derecho natural no es derecho. En 88. The supposed natural law is not law. It only
l se expresa una tica que se arroga falazmente expresses an ethic that arrogates itself fallacious
validez jurdica, o con l se engalana y se enluce juridical validity. It also dresses up and polishes the
una clase.
89. Anlogamente, la tesis de una tabla 89. Analogously, the thesis of a pre-existent table of
incorrecta. Los llamados derechos del hombre, rights, however computed, or prescribed with
de cualquier modo que se computen, y bajo whatsoever formula, are simple statements of
cualquier frmula que se receten, son simples aspirations and desires; i.e. simple psychological
90. El derecho subjetivo, en efecto, es mera 90. Subjective law is a mere juridical pretension of
pretensin jurdica de derecho positivo. Como la positive law. As the legal rule does not simply
regla de derecho no registra simplemente un register a right but engenders it, subjective rights
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derecho, sino lo engendra, los derechos are not registered in our reason, or in human
subjetivos no estn inscritos en la razn del consciousness, but in the juridical regime of a
hombre, o en la conciencia humana, sino en el society and in the annals of a people. Subjective law
rgimen jurdico de una sociedad, y en los is an acquired right, a concrete right, a historical
histrico.
91. El hombre no tiene ms derechos que los que 91. Mankind has no more rights than those that
emanan como consecuencias de la regla de emanate as consequences of the agreed legal rule.
hombre es emitir una frase carente de sentido something lacking intelligible sense.
inteligible.
92. Todo derecho, por lo tanto, es derecho positivo; 92. All law is, therefore, positive law; but if all is
pero, en segundo lugar, si todo es positivo en positive in law, the law itself is not.
93. La regla nacida del convenio es la regla 93. The rule born out of the agreement is the material
material, no la regla formal de derecho. Cada rule, not the formal legal rule. Each agreement
convenio engendra la materia de una regla, no engenders the content of a rule, not the form of the
la forma de la regla, que es forma del convenio rule, which is the form of the agreement itself.
mismo. La juridicidad, en efecto, no es materia Juridicity, indeed, is not the matter of the
estructura.
94. Si, luego, todo es positivo en derecho menos cl 94. If, then, all is positive in law but the law itself, not
derecho mismo, no todo derecho positivo es every positive law is necessarily law.
necesariamente derecho.
95. La norma que no cumple la condicin formal del 95. The norm that doesnt comply with the formal
derecho no es norma jurdica. Como el derecho condition of law is not a juridical norm. Since
positivo consta de las normas compulsivas de positive law is made of valid, compulsive norms of
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conducta vigentes en una sociedad, basta su conduct in a society, it suffices its compulsive
carcter compulsivo para estampillar una character to stamp a norm as a valid disposition of
norma como disposicin vigente de derecho positive law, but not to justify it as such. The
positivo, pero no para justificarla como regla de juridicity of a rule emanates from its character as an
derecho. La juridicidad de una regla emana de agreed axiom in the encounter of two different
encuentro de dos sujetos distintos; por lo tanto, legal rule, except when it emanates from a double
sino cuando emana de un doble convenio: over its approved compulsion. Positive law can
convenio sobre su contenido; convenio sobre su cover, then, edicts, laws, and codes that are not
96. Las disposiciones de derecho positivo sin 96. The dispositions of positive law without juridical
validez jurdica son aquellas que dicta una validity are those that a sovereign will dictates. To
voluntad soberana. Suponer que de una fuente suppose that from a similar source can come a legal
semejante provenga una regla de derecho, rule is equivalent to conceding incongruously that a
equivale a conceder incongruamente que la legal rule is the act of a sole will; i.e., that it is not
regla de derecho es acto de una voluntad sola, an agreement; i.e., that it is not a legal rule.
es decir: que no es convenio, es decir: que no es Juridically, sovereignty resides only in the
97. Lo que complace al prncipe tiene, sin duda, 97. What pleases the prince has, indeed, the force of
vigor de ley. Pero ese mandato soberano no es law. But that sovereign mandate is not a legal rule
jurdicamente obligatorio. Infringir esa ley no es infringe that law is not to violate a rule, nor to find a
violar una regla, ni hallar un derecho, sino right, but to defeat, by astuteness or force, a
34
prepotencia usurpada.
98. No basta, para dar validez jurdica a una 98. To give juridical validity to a sovereign will it is not
derecho divino, a una asamblea de mandatarios to an assembly of people, or to a complete nation but
del pueblo, o a una nacin entera salvo una sola a solitary voice, as it is not enough that the whole of
voz solitaria, como no basta que la humanidad mankind contradicts itself to invalidate the principle
entera se contradiga para invalidar el principio of contradiction. Law is not engendered in the
de contradiccin. El derecho no se engendra en imperial consistories, nor in the Senate, nor in the
consistorios imperiales, ni en el senado, ni en el council of the plebs, nor even in the comitia tributa,
concilio de la plebe, ni an en los comicios del but when a man recognizes another man.
hombre.
99. El positivismo jurdico y el derecho natural son 99. Juridical positivism and natural law are equally
igualmente insuficientes, porque ninguno define insufficient because neither specifically defines the
especficamente lo jurdico, que ste evapora en juridical. The latter evaporates it in ethics and the
tica y aqul disuelve en sociologa. Superfluos, former dissolves it in sociology. They are
porque la regla de derecho resuelve sola el superfluous because the legal rule resolves itself the
100. Siendo obligacin de respetar lo convenido, la 100. Being obliged to respect what has been agreed, the
regla de derecho no requiere un tutor legal rule does not require a natural law tutor to
iusnaturalista que la soporte, ni sufre la support it; nor does it suffer the interference of a
injerencia iuspositivista que la quebranta. Para positive law that violates it. To explain juridical
deber tico o a la coaccin social; basta atender duty, or to social coercion. It is enough to attend the
a la definicin de la regla. La regla de derecho definition of the rule. A legal rule is not juridically
no es jurdicamente inviolable porque una inviolable because a moral authority protects it, or
potestad moral la ampare, o porque un poder because the power of the state defends it, but
estatal la defienda, sino porque la regla es, because the rule is, tautologically, its own
35
tautolgicamente, su inviolabilidad misma. inviolability. Inviolable rule and legal rule are
expresiones tautolgicas.
101. La regla de derecho obviamente comunica su 101. The legal rule obviously communicates its
inviolabilidad tautolgica al derecho subjetivo tautological inviolability to the subjective law that it
que engendra. Los derechos subjetivos son engenders. Positive rights are unwavering and
subjetivo, adquirido como consecuencia de una rule, subordinates itself in a juridical system to a
regla, se subordina en un sistema jurdico a una more general rule, but no subjective right can be
regla ms general, pero ningn derecho increased, restricted, or abrogated by the sovereign
subjetivo puede ser acrecentado, restringido, o will of the whole humanity or, more skillfully, by the
abrogado, por una voluntad soberana, mystical general will. Subjective law, concretely and
individual o colectiva, aun cuando esa voluntad historically acquired, is juridically absolute.
102. Por definicin, un sistema jurdico no es ms, 102. By definition, a juridical system is nothing more
inviolables.
103. La inviolabilidad de la regla, asimismo, 103. The inviolability of the rule also consolidates the
consolida la seguridad jurdica del derecho juridical necessity of positive law. Juridical security,
positivo. La seguridad jurdica, sin duda, no without a doubt, has no tautological necessity, but
tiene necesidad tautolgica, sino posibilidad an empirical possibility. Its growing probability is a
emprica, pero su probabilidad creciente es function of the rules inviolability, the proliferation
funcin tanto de la inviolabilidad de la regla, of rules, and the progression of individuals attached
36
en el espacio y en el tiempo.
104. Limitado a una sola situacin jurdica entre dos 104. Limited to a sole juridical situation between two
sujetos, un sistema de derecho seria mortal y subjects, a system of law would be mortal and brief.
breve. Su seguridad jurdica crece con el mismo Its juridical security grows with the number of
de reglas, con la multiplicacin de sujetos que rules, with the multiplication of subjects that it
obliga, y con la interferencia jurdica entre obliges, and with the juridical interference between
inviolabilidad de la regla recprocamente traba inviolability of the rule reciprocally holds at every
en cada instante del tiempo. En virtud de la red instant. In virtue of the juridical net that it weaves,
jurdica que teje, del enjambre humano que of the human swarm that it includes, of the endless
incluye del relevo insecable de generaciones, la relay of generations, the inviolable rule does not
regla inviolable no crea meramente situaciones merely create momentary situations that are valid
momentneas, situaciones vlidas solamente only while they govern the conduct of an individual
destinado a morir. Sobra, pues, invocar immortal principles, natural laws, and essential
principios inmortales, leyes naturales, intuitions, to guarantee the security of law, because
intuiciones esenciales, para caucionar la the legal rules alone spin their own weave and cloth.
trama.
105. El derecho no el estatuto intemporal de normas, 105. Law is not a timeless statute of norms, nor a
tiempo, convenidos entre sujetos que se settled between subjects that recognize each other
106. Como la Justicia es la observancia de la regla 106. As Justice is the observance of the legal rule, the act
de derecho, justo es el acto concorde con la according to the rule is just, and the act that breaks
regla, e injusto el acto que la incumple. La it is unjust. Injustice is the derision and breaking of
37
injusticia es el escarnio y el quebranto de las the rules.
reglas.
107. Conforme a cierta definicin ilustre, la justicia 107. According to a certain illustrious definition, justice
consiste en dar a cada cual lo suyo, es decir: en consists of giving each his due; i.e.: in respecting the
respetar el derecho vlido que cada cual posee. valid right that each one owns. Justice can only
La justicia solamente logra proporcionar lo que provide what it computes and distributes when it
conmuta y distribuye, cuando lo mide con la measures it with the legal rule. Justice does not
regla de derecho. La justicia no pesa, ni reparte, weigh, nor distribute, but registers and confirms.
sino registra y confirma. La justicia no es tabla Justice is not a transcendental table of rights, but
suprema de ser fieles al convenio concluido y a concluded agreement and to the engendered rights.
108. Lo justo no resulta de la intuicin de una 108. Justice does not result from the intuition of an
esencia, ni surge en una emocin peculiar, ni es essence, nor is it born in a peculiar emotion, nor
obediencia a determinadas normas. Justo es el does it consist in obedience to certain rules. Just is
acto de quien hace lo propio, de quien atribuye a the act of he who does what he should, of he who
cada cual lo suyo, de quien acta de manera tal distributes to each one his due, of he who acts in a
que su acto sirve de ley. Justo es el acto way that his own acts serve as law. Just is the act
109. El peso de la injusticia, sin embargo, y la 109. Nonetheless, the weight of injustice and the serenity
serenidad del justo, hacen dudar que injusticia y of the just make one doubt that injustice and justice
justicia provengan meramente del come merely from the failure to comply with or to
incumplimiento o del acato de una norma obey a human rule. Here it does not seem that
humana. Aqu parece que no se revuelvan whirlwinds revolve, but that a sea breeze blows.
110. La jaez tica de la justicia trasciende, 110. The ethical component of justice transcends,
ciertamente, su estatuto jurdico. La luminosa certainly, its juridical statute. The luminous
presencia de un valor en el acto justo, y la atroz presence of a value in a just act and the atrocious
38
positividad de la injusticia, irradian desde los positivity of injustice irradiate from the simple
simples comportamientos jurdicos un claror juridical behaviours an august clarity. Under that
augusto. Bajo esa luz insobornable, la emprica incorruptible light, the empirical fight of history
contienda de la historia se transfigura en justa transfigures itself into a sacred joust. In its daily
sagrada. En su impureza cotidiana fermentan impurity, divine ghosts ferment. But the rank and
fantasmas divinos. Pero la ndole axiolgica, y axiological nature of the just act does not alter its
el rango del acto justo, no alteran su naturaleza ontological nature. Justice is the virtue that consists
en la observancia de la regla
111. Quienes hablan de una Justicia ms 111. Those who speak of a loftier and nobler Justice are
encumbrada y linajuda, se dejan engaar por fooled by pious speeches, ethical scruples, or the
soflamas pas, por escrpulos ticos, o por los corporeal goods that they desire.
112. El hombre invoca una justicia divina para 112. Mankind invokes divine justice to protect its pride
amparar su orgullo contra la intolerable against the intolerable gratuity of grace. Our vanity
rebela contra la sumisin irremediable. El pleito Pharisees quarrel fits a legalist cult, where precepts
del fariseo slo es propio a un culto legalista, are crowded and fulfilment is weighted, but where
donde los preceptos se hacinan y el justice is too the observance of a rule. Those who
cumplimiento se pesa, pero donde la justicia es pretend juridical resources to invigorate their
tambin la observancia de una regla. Quienes requests trust in the methods that arrogate
fingen recursos jurdicos para vigorizar sus themselves more than in the crucified compassion.
plegarias, confan en los mritos que se arrogan But happily, God is not the supreme justice, but the
misericordia suprema.
113. La justicia no consiste tampoco en el 113. Justice does not consist in obedience to ethical
acatamiento de normas ticas. Los principios norms. Moral principles neither give nor take away
39
morales ni dan ni quitan validez jurdica a las juridical validity to existent rules. They are only
reglas existentes. Tan solo son motivos, motives, juridically neutral, to demand a
jurdicamente neutros, para reclamar una transformation of the rules or to propose new rules,
transformacin de las reglas o para proponer but while the agreement of wills does not intervene,
reglas nuevas, pero mientras no intervenga el justice does not consist in submission to those
acuerdo de voluntades, la justicia no consiste en principles but in the observance of the valid rule and
legtimos.
114. Los intereses que pregonan la justicia de su 114. The interests that preach the justice of their cause
causa, o son legtimos derechos ofendidos, o son are legitimate offended rights, or thinly veiled
propicio para servir propsitos ideolgicos. proclaim, before the agreement, the justice of a
Proclamar, anticipadamente al acuerdo, la cause is a rhetorical trick of those who advocate for
justicia de una causa, es treta retrica de quien causes without a title. To name justice the petition
aboga por causas sin ttulo. Llamar justa la that no agreement supports is a simple trick to
peticin que ningn convenio funda, es simple disorient opponents and enervate their resistance. It
argucia para desorientar opositores, y para is not enough to baptise social justice the
enervar su resistencia. No basta bautizar programme of a party to legitimate the rights that a
justicia social el programa de un partido, para mob reclaims only for being poor, ugly, and stupid.
legitimar los derechos que una muchedumbre A cause is not just because we think it is, or because
reclama solamente por ser pobre, bruta, y fea. it benefits and profits us, but because a legal rule
Una causa no es justa porque as nos parezca, o justifies and supports it.
115. La definicin de la justicia, finalmente, como 115. Finally, the definition of justice as the observance of
observancia de la regla, suprime los equvocos the rule abolishes the inaccuracies that corrode and
40
que corroen y adulteran las nociones de libertad falsify the notions of liberty and equality.
y de igualdad.
116. La igualdad cuyo acato es justo y que la 116. The equality that is just to obey, and that the
categora jurdica demanda es una igualdad juridical category demands, is a formal equality; i.e.,
formal, es decir: la igualdad como sujetos de the equality as subjects of the law of juridically
enfrentados.
117. Quienes no se reconocen como sujetos iguales, 117. Those who do not recognize each other as equal
en efecto, se tratan como simples objetos subjects, indeed, treat each other as simple logical
lgicos de actos solitarios y autnomos. Pero la objects of solitary and autonomous acts. But the
igualdad formal de los sujetos no es igualdad formal equality of subjects is not the material
material de los individuos; los sujetos son equality of individuals. Subjects are equally
igualmente sujetos, pero sus derechos no son subjects, but their rights are not necessarily equal.
necesariamente iguales. Lo jurdico implica The juridical demands different subjects; i.e.,
sujetos distintos, es decir; individuos individuals who are materially different and
desiguales. La individualidad inefable es la substance of the subject, i.e., what is not supplanted,
simultneamente repetido en distintos puntos individual cannot convene with itself. Needing at
espaciales. Pero un solo individuo solitario no least two subjects, the juridical, therefore, demands
puede convenir consigo mismo. Necesitando por the equality of subjects and the inequality of
118. La libertad jurdicamente necesaria es, 118. The necessary juridical liberty is, consequently, an
41
consecuentemente, una libertad desigual. La unequal liberty. Juridical liberty, without a doubt, is
libertad jurdica, sin duda, es poder de concluir the power to conclude or decline an agreement, but
el convenio o de declinarlo, pero la validez del the validity of the agreement cannot depend on the
convenio no puede depender de la igualdad material equality between the confronted liberties.
material entre las libertades enfrentadas. Exigir To demand such an equality of liberties, on the
una tal igualdad de libertades, al contrario, contrary, annuls the possibility of the agreement.
119. Como dos libertades iguales en efecto, slo 119. As two equal liberties, indeed, can only be attributes
pueden ser atributos de individuos idnticos, la of two identical individuals, the requirement of equal
exigencia de libertades iguales para validar el liberties to validate the agreement nullifies it a
convenio lo suprime a priori. Las causas que priori. The causes that motivate an agreement are
motivan un convenio son necesariamente necessarily unequal, but just like the motives of the
desiguales, pero as como los motivos de la postulation dont validate or invalidate its logical
postulacin no invalidan ni validan sus conclusions, in the same way, the motives of an
conclusiones lgicas, as los motivos de un agreement dont validate or invalidate its juridical
consecuencias jurdicas. Tal vez all postul por and there I agreed because of hunger. But in the
ignorancia, y aqu convine por hambre; pero all former instance, I could be silent; and in the latter, I
120. No solamente los individuos que se obligan son 120. Not only are the compelled individuals unequally
desigualmente libres, las libertades convenidas free, but the agreed liberties are unequal too. The
son desiguales tambin. El contenido jurdico de juridical content of liberty is subject to the
la libertad es materia de convenio, y surge de agreement, and it comes from acts submerged in the
actos sumidos en el espesor de la historia. Toda density of history. All agreed liberty is intangible
libertad convenida es intangible y sagrada, pero and sacred, but because it is not possible to deduce
como no es dable deducir su contenido de la sola its content from the sole juridical category, the
determina soberanamente, las libertades Legitimate liberties show, in the course of centuries,
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legtimas muestran, en el decurso de los siglos diverse contextures and distinct overtones. It is a
contexturas diversas y tintes distintos; es gesto puerile act, then, to characterize as imperfect the
pueril, por lo tanto, llamar imperfectas las past liberties that do not coincide with our
nuestras definiciones transitorias o bautizar impossible liberties that flatter our vanity and
121. El hombre puede, lcitamente, graduar la 121. Men can lawfully graduate the extension and the
extensin y la intensin de las libertades que intensity of the liberties that they adopt, and can
adopta y puede convenir, luego, distintas agree, then, to distinct figures of servitude, as long
figuras de servidumbre, siempre que no as they do not submit to the unconditional will of
convenga someterse al arbitrio incondicional de another man. The settler of the Low-Empire and
otro hombre. El colono del Bajo-imperio, o el the medieval serf were in lawful situations, but
siervo medieval, se hallaban en situaciones de slavery is illicit, even if agreed, and even if it lasts
derecho jurdicamente vlidas, pero la for centuries because it violates the rule that
esclavitud es ilcita absolutamente, aun cuando prohibits to agree against the agreement.
122. La igualdad no es condicin, por lo tanto, ni 122. Equality is not a condition, therefore, nor a
sinnimo de la justicia, sino la materia siempre synonym of justice, but the diverse and inevitably
convenio. Una incomparabilidad radical falsifica incomparability falsifies even the less equivocal and
an las igualdades menos equivocas y menos less chimerical equality. The equality of subjects and
quimricas. La igualdad de los sujetos y la the equality of souls do not drain the cruel substance
igualdad de las almas no evacuan la cruel of our differences. To dispute as unjust all
substancia de nuestras diferencias. Diputar inequalities is the best excuse to absolve, without
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para absolver sin penitencia nuestra envidia.
123. La justicia, pues, es la simple observancia de la 123. Justice is, then, the simple observance of the rule,
regla, no el mstico fin del derecho. La finalidad not the mystical end of the law. The finality of law
del derecho es el derecho mismo. Justo es el is the law itself. Just is the act according to the rule.
124. El Estado es la regla de derecho que asegura la 124. The State is the legal rule that assures the
observancia. observance.
125. Jurdicamente, el estado es la regla que 125. Juridically, the State is the rule that establishes
estatuye mecanismos judiciales para asegurar, judicial mechanisms to assure, by force, the
mediante la fuerza. la observancia de las reglas. observance of the rules. The State acquires a
realidad poltica como herramienta que el tool that law forges to assure its own implantation.
derecho forja para asegurar su implantacin. El The state is, fundamentally, a court and a judge.
juez.
126. El estado es un ser intrnsecamente jurdico, 126. The state is an intrinsically juridical being, no
cualesquiera que sean las rutinas biolgicas o la matter the biological routines or the historical
violencia histrica en que se origina. Cuando el violence in which it originates. When animal
gregarismo animal declina, la violencia orienta gregariousness declines, violence orients human
los comportamientos humanos, pero an en la behaviours, but even in the horde or the tribe the
horda o en la tribu, la fuerza nuda de un bare force of a warrior or a leader triumphs only
guerrero o un caudillo triunfa slo transitorily, if those who suffer its brute arrogance
transitoriamente, si quienes sufren su do not agree with a law that legitimates he who
prepotencia bruta no consienten un derecho de enforces it. Even between thugs, the leader needs
ejercerla a quien la ejerce. Aun entre rufianes el the approval of his accomplices. All despotism is
cabecilla necesita el asentimiento de sus founded on the support of its adherents. The
cmplices. Todo despotismo se funda sobre la juridical is the dorsal spine of force. In the crudest
adhesin de sus banderizos. Lo jurdico es la act of dominion, the juridical ferments as the genetic
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espina dorsal de la fuerza. En el ms tosco code of its embryogeny.
127. El mando, claro est, es el menester primigenio 127. Of course, to command is the first function of the
del estado, pero el poder slo se cumple y se state, but power is fulfilled and consolidated only
afianza cuando se declara defensor del derecho when it declares itself the defender of law against a
contra el enemigo forneo, o su guardin contra foreign enemy, or a guardian against the internal
el infractor intestino. Tanto en sus concreciones offender. In its embryonic realization, as in its adult
embrionarias como en sus articulaciones articulation, the state realizes its congenital
adultas, el estado realiza su virtualidad virtuality solely when it acts as executor of the
congnita solamente cuando acta como juridical will of a society. The possibility of
ejecutor de la voluntad jurdica de una sociedad. exploiting the state as the domination apparatus of
aparato de dominio de un individuo, de una authority of its juridical nature. The spurious lives
secta, o de una clase, se apoya en la autoridad off the authentic. Legal authority is a fraudulent
128. El estado no es poder neto y nudo, sino fuerza 128. The state is not a clear and bare power, but a force
que materializa la autoridad de lo jurdico. that materializes the authority of the juridical.
129. De los tres poderes que el constitucionalismo 129. Of the three powers that classical constitutionalism
clsico atribuy al estado, el primero es attributed to the state, the first is subordinate, the
subordinado, el segundo inexistente, slo el second non-existent, and only the third constitutive.
tercero constitutivo.
130. En el estado, como herramienta del derecho, el 130. If we think the state as a tool of law, executive
poder ejecutivo se subordina al poder judicial, power is subordinate to judicial power and
cuyos fallos ejecuta, y el llamado poder implements its rulings. Legislative power lacks
legislativo carece de competencia jurdica. Todo juridical competence. All legislators usurp their
45
legislador usurpa su oficio. trade.
131. Jurdicamente, el estado capta el derecho en sus 131. Juridically, the state captures law in its legitimate
fuentes legtimas, y tan slo elabora sources and only elaborates technically the valid
tcnicamente la materia vlida de las reglas. La material of its rules. The legislative capacity of the
capacidad legislativa del estado es meramente state is merely a jurisprudential capacity. Laws are
capacidad jurisprudencial. Las leyes son rules that the State sanctions and promulgates to
reglamentos que el estado sanciona y promulga methodize the rules from where they derive their
para metodizar las reglas de donde derivan su juridical authority. The state declares the law and
autoridad jurdica. El estado declara la ley, y la imposes it. But the authority of law does not rest on
impone; pero la autoridad de la ley no descansa the states authority. Laws authority emanates
sobre la autoridad del estado. La autoridad de from the legal rules that it fixes. And the authority
la ley emana de la regla de derecho que fija; y la of the State emanates from the legal rule that
132. El estado no es aparato militar, ni mquina 132. The State is not a military apparatus, nor an
fuerza ampara sus actos, y la administracin Force protects its acts, and the public administration
pblica implanta sus decisiones, pero el estado enacts its decisions, but the state is a tribunal, the
es tribunal, el estado no es legislador, el estado state is not a legislator, the state is not sovereign.
no es soberano. Ni es soberano, tampoco, quien Neither is sovereign he who governs it, nor the
lo gobierna, ni es soberano el parlamento que lo parliament that exhorts, admonishes, and corrects
exhorta, lo amonesta, y lo corrige, ni es it, nor is sovereign the majority party that holds the
soberano el partido mayoritario que detenta el physical power and legal domination, nor is
poder fsico y la dominacin legal, ni es sovereign the mystical will of the people, nor is
soberana la mstica voluntad del pueblo, ni es sovereign the reason of man, nor the human
soberana la razn del hombre, o la conciencia consciousness. Only the legal rule is sovereign; i.e.,
humana. Solo es soberana la regla de derecho, the concluded agreement between the juridically
46
voluntades jurdicamente libres de individuos
distintos.
133. El smbolo de la potestad ms alta es el roble 133. The symbol of the highest authority is the legendary
legendario, y su emblema no es el cetro, sino la oak, and its emblem is not the sceptre but the sword
134. La legitimidad del estado no depende de 134. The States legitimacy does not depend on ethical,
exigencias ticas, sociales, o polticas. Salvo la social, or political demands. Save for juridical
teora jurdica, ninguna otra teora theory, no other theory predetermines its form. A
predetermina su forma. Todo estado que resulte State that results from the concluded agreement
del acuerdo concluido entre quienes gobierna, y between those that it governs, and that administers
que administre el derecho que estos reconocen, the law that they recognize, is juridically valid. The
es jurdicamente vlido. El estado de derecho rule of law has different forms. History is the
meldicas.
135. El bastn de mando de una horda 135. The sceptre of a Magdalenian horde is no less
magdaleniense no es menos legtimo que la tiara legitimate than the Persian tiara, the consular
prsica, los fasces consulares, la cola equina de fasces, the tug of the Mongol khans, or the golden
carolingios.
136. En virtud de la regla que prohbe convenir 136. In virtue of the rule that forbids agreeing against
contra el convenio, y que rige la construccin the agreement and that rules the construction of
del derecho pblico, solo una variedad de estado public law, only a variety of state is absolutely illicit:
es absolutamente ilcita: aquella que consiste en that which consists in the unrestricted submission to
colectiva.
137. El estado absolutista, donde la impostura del 137. The absolutist state, where the imposture of the
47
mandato remeda la regla de derecho, es mandate mimics legal rule, is juridically illicit, no
138. El estado absolutista alega, segn las 138. The absolutist state claims, according to
139. Algunas veces el absolutismo manifiesta ser 139. Sometimes absolutism claims to be a historical
necesidad histrica, y ensea que slo es necessity, and teaches that the only legitimate state
legtimo el estado que las urgencias econmicas is the one that economic urgencies dialectically
dialcticamente imponen. Su ideologa jurdica impose. Its juridical ideology is incisive and short. A
crea sucesivamente derechos, los mina, y los mines them, and re-establishes them at a higher
restablece en un nivel ms alto. Derecho es la level. Law is the force that acts victoriously on
fuerza que a la sazn acta victoriosamente history. Subjective rights are transitory
sobre la historia. Los derechos subjetivos son configurations of power, and juridical validity is a
voluntad imperante.
140. Los exgetas del sistema, como nicos 140. The systems exegetes act like the only confidants of
confidentes de la historia, descifran su curso history and decipher its course with such certainty
con tanta certeza que solo juzgan legtima la that they only judge legitimate the necessity that
necesidad que profetizan, que aprueban, y que they foretell, approve, and perpetrate. The violence
perpetran. Solo es partera de la historia la they execute is the only midwife of history. If
violencia que ejercen; si triunfa una violencia another violence triumphs, no one invokes better the
ajena, nadie invoca mejor los derechos mutilated rights and the violated consciences. It
mutilados y la conciencia escarnecida. Basta suffices that history rebels against its prophecies for
que la historia se rebele contra sus vaticinios, dialectical absolutism to appeal to the juridical
para que el absolutismo dialctico apele, contra distinction between de facto validity and the validity
48
la historia insumisa, a la distincin jurdica of the law. Force is the justification that the theory
entre la vigencia de facto y la validez de explicitly admits, but the one that it silently
derecho. La fuerza es la justificacin que la embraces is no other than the theological privilege
teora explcitamente admite, pero la que of a god that germinates in history. Dialectical
calladamente abraza no es otra que el fuero absolutism is the most recent adventure of the old
teolgico de un dios que germina en la historia. theodicy. Surreptitious titanic hands steal the
peripecia de la vieja teodicea. Subrepticias Juridically, the theory is incoherent and null.
es incoherente, y nula.
141. El absolutismo, otras veces, prefiere guarecerse 141. At other times, absolutism prefers to protect itself
bajo doctrinas que proclaman, enfticamente, under doctrines that proclaim, emphatically, that the
que la finalidad del estado es la prosperidad finality of the state is public prosperity, human
pblica, la felicidad humana, la justicia social, el happiness, social justice, progress, or the common
142. Atribuir al estado una finalidad distinta de la 142. To attribute to the state a different finality than the
imposicin del derecho es transformarlo en imposition of law is to transform it into a tool of the
agente de los caprichos de quien mande. Si el rulers fancy. If the state is not a simple instrument
estado no es simple herramienta del derecho, no of the law, there are no brazen purposes that it will
hay propsito procaz que no secunde, ni torva not support, nor grim purposes that it will not help
empresa que no coadyuve algn da. Cualquier someday. To give to it any different finality results
fin distinto que se le asigne, sufre que el in the interpreter interpreting it as it wants.
gana.
143. Aun al proceder honestamente, nadie puede 143. Even if it proceeds honestly, every definition of ends
evitar que su definicin de los fines le sea is personal. No one can prevent, then, the necessity
propia. Nadie puede esquivar, entonces, la to treat like pure objects controlling their
49
necesidad de tratar como objetos puros, cuyos behaviours and fixing their goals the subjects that
comportamientos regula y cuyas metas fija, a are supposedly treated like autonomous individuals
144. Semejantes doctrinas, por lo tanto, son ms 144. Those doctrines, therefore, are more naive than
ingenuas que ingeniosas, pues consisten ingenious, because they ridiculously allow men to
risiblemente en permitir que cada cual llame, a define public prosperity as that which satisfies
su antojo, prosperidad pblica lo que le them, human happiness as that which delights
satisface, felicidad humana lo que lo deleita, them, social justice as that which moves them,
justicia social lo que lo conmueve, progreso lo progress as that which flatters their prejudices,
que halaga sus prejuicios, bien comn lo que common good as that which they personally want.
personalmente desea. Las definiciones ms The most cautiously objective and strict definitions
cautelosamente objetivas solo son cndida are only the candid expression of our convictions.
145. Esas doctrinas, sin embargo, no suelen ser tan 145. These doctrines, nevertheless, are not usually that
inocentes. La historia no conoce dspota que no innocent. History does not know a despot who does
intente justificar su yugo recurriendo a esas not try to justify its yoke by recurring to those
definiciones proxenticas. Aqu los delitos pandering definitions. Here, crimes promote public
fomentan la prosperidad pblica, all los prosperity; there, offences accelerate human
crmenes festinan la felicidad humana, ms all happiness; here, abuses consummate social justice;
los abusos consuman la justicia social, siempre always injustice promotes progress. Ambition, envy,
la injusticia impulsa el progreso. La ambicin, or greed are nurtured and become satiated in the
la envidia, o la codicia, se apacientan y se name of the common good, with a magnanimous and
146. La nocin de bien comn virulencia anidada 146. The notion of common good virulence nested
castamente en cogullas monacales solo sera chastely in monastic cowls would only be valid if
vlida si denotara meramente el derecho. En it referred merely to the law. Indeed, the only
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efecto, slo es bien comn aquello por lo cual se common good is that for which we opt with
147. El absolutismo, finalmente, no se limita a 147. Absolutism, finally, does not limit itself to the
elaborar escapatorias tan ftiles. El estado elaboration of such futile subterfuges. The absolutist
absolutista se declara emanacin de la voluntad state declares itself the emanation of the will of the
popular, y legitima su gestin y su origen people, and legitimises its administration and its
apelando a la voluntad del pueblo. La tesis origin by appealing to the peoples will. The
148. Sea que suponga un contrato primitivo, o 148. Be it that it supposes a primitive contract or a
correctamente afirma que el estado legtimo affirms that the legitimate state can only be born of
slo puede surgir del acuerdo de voluntades. the agreement of wills. Its more illustrious doctors
Sus ms ilustres doctores sostienen que el hold that the social contract is, by definition,
149. Pero la tesis democrtica no consiste en esos 149. But the democratic thesis does not consist of those
enunciados correctos, sino en la tesis insidiosa correct enunciations, but in the insidious thesis of an
de un pacto inmediatamente ulterior. La teora immediately ulterior pact. The democratic thesis
democrtica consiste en afirmar que en el consists in affirming that in the first juridical pact
primer pacto jurdico los pactantes the parties unanimously pact the transference of
soberana jurdica a las futuras mayoras It is agreed, then, that after the first pact the will of
votantes. Se pacta, pues, que posteriormente al the simple majority equals the unanimous will of the
pueblo.
150. La substancia de la teora democrtica, y el 150. The substance of the democratic theory and the
nervio de su argumentacin jurdica, se hallan centre of its juridical argumentation are here: the
51
151. Despus de transferir el nombre jurdico de 151. After transferring the juridical name of people to
pueblo a la simple mayora imperante, la the simple ruling majority, the decision of the
decisin mayoritaria obviamente suplanta el majority obviously supplants the agreement of wills
arroga sus consecuencias jurdicas. Donde la Where the democratic thesis rules, what pleases the
tesis democrtica impera, lo que complace al people, necessarily habet vigorem legis.
152. La tesis democrtica consiste en afirmar que es 152. The democratic thesis affirms that it is logically
lgicamente vlido y jurdicamente lcito, valid and juridically licit to admit that between two
admitir que entre dos sujetos de derecho se subjects of law it can be agreed that one will be free
pueda convenir que uno de ellos ser libre de to alter the agreement at its will, or to abrogate it at
alterar a su arbitrio el convenio, o de abrogarlo its will, or to agree at its will and by itself the terms
mismo los trminos de un convenio nuevo. La therefore, violates the principle of univocity.
de univocidad.
153. La tesis democrtica es jurdicamente nula, por 153. The democratic thesis is juridically void because it is
no es ms que la violacin metdica de la nica no more than the methodical violation of the only
regla obligatoria de todo convenio: la que obligatory rule of all agreements: the one that
prohbe convenir contra el convenio mismo. prohibits agreeing against the agreement.
154. La tesis democrtica, resbaladiza y sinuosa, 154. The democratic thesis, slippery and sinuous, raises
alza la testa comba de las ltimas soberbias. La the bent head of ultimate arrogance. The thesis
tesis se retuerce con flexibilidad incomparable y twists itself with incomparable flexibility and marks
desliza sobre la historia la huella viscosa de su history with the viscous mark of its drivel.
baba.
155. Basta fraguar calladamente una lex regia de 155. It suffices to silently forge a lex regia de imperio
imperio ferendo para entronizar una bestia ferendo to enthrone a caesarean beast on the
cesrea en el Palatino. Basta el prototipo de Palatine. It suffices the prototype of a lex Hortensia
52
una lex Hortensia para legitimar to legitimate ignominiously the empire of a street
callejero, o de la avidez fetal de una secta, o del vertical descent of an inexorable slash, or an
descenso vertical de un tajo inexorable, o de enterprise lit by crematory ovens, or the blast of a
una empresa alumbrada por hornos gun against the nape in the silence of the steppe. All
156. La democracia no logra ocultar su esencia bajo 156. Democracy does not manage to conceal its essence
su irrisoria ideologa jurdica. La democracia es, under its ridiculous juridical theory. Democracy is,
transitoriamente, el bruto peso de la plebe; transitorily, the brute weight of the plebs; durably,
III III
157. Identificar la categora jurdica no basta. Entre 157. To identify the juridical category does not suffice.
la categora y la realidad histrica una instancia Between the category and the historical reality, a
esquema a la realizacin temporal de lo jurdico, scheme for the temporal realization of the juridical,
intermediario ineludible entre el derecho puro y intermediary between pure law and positive law.
el derecho positivo.
158. La regla de derecho que emana de un convenio 158. The legal rule that emanates from an explicit
explcito, acordado entre individuos lcidamente agreement decided between individuals lucidly
ciertos del propsito que abrigan, del importe certain of the purpose they have, of the juridical
jurdico del acto que ejecuta y de las value of the act they execute, and of the
consecuencias que derivan es una pura consequences that they derive, is a purely
53
construccin terica. El convenio es la theoretical construction. The agreement is the
definicin del derecho, pero el esquema de su definition of law, but the scheme of its temporal
histrico. El hombre no conviene la regla de not agree to the legal rule but consents to the rule.
derecho, sino consiente a la regla. El consenso The consensus is the form that assumes, in the
es la forma que asume, en la concreta impureza concrete impurity of history, the unpolluted demand
convenio.
159. El legtimo derecho positivo no es el imposible 159. The legitimate positive law is not the impossible
engendro de un convenio explcito y solemne, spawn of an explicit and solemn agreement, but the
sino la acumulacin histrica de reglas que historical accumulation of rules that an everyday
legitima un consenso cotidiano e implcito. El and implicit consensus legitimizes. Men do not go to
hombre no se congrega en un abstracto y mtico an abstract and mythical forum to agree on their
foro para convenir sus derechos. En el largo rights. In the long series of centuries, men find
decurso de la historia, el hombre se encuentra themselves inside the law that governs them, as in
dentro del derecho que lo rige. como dentro del the language that they speak.
160. El derecho no tiene origen histrico, como no lo 160. Law, like language, does not have a historical
tiene el lenguaje. Nadie invent su derecho, ni origin. No one invented their law or their language.
su lengua. Aun en la horda paleoltica, el Even in the Palaeolithic horde, the individual was
individuo nace entre reglas de sintaxis y reglas born between rules of syntax and legal rules. The
de derecho. El primer vagido humano repercute first human cry reverberates between juridical
161. Nadie vive en estado de virginidad lingstica o 161. No one lives in a state of linguistic virginity or of
de inocencia jurdica. El derecho como el juridical innocence. Law is, like language, a human
idioma, sin duda, es construccin humana, pero construction, but it is not the intentional product of
no fabricacin intencional del hombre. El idioma mankind. Language is a human discovery, but no
es hallazgo humano, pero ningn hombre lo man invents it. No one premeditates its durable
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inventa. Nadie premedita sus ocurrencias remarks. Sharpness is transformed unthinkingly
duraderas. La agudeza se transforma into a word. Words fall, but only invisible hands
162. El derecho resulta de acuerdos en el tiempo, 162. Law is the result of agreements in time, but the
pero los individuos concordes no concertaron su convening individuals do not concert to its
consenso. El derecho no fue nunca lo que se agreement. Law was never what is made in the
hace en el presente, sino lo que se hizo en el present, but what was made in the past. The
pasado. La validez y la vigencia de la regla han validity and the life of a rule have depended on the
dependido de la ignorancia de su origen. La ignorance of its origin. The norm that for the first
norma que por primera vez se aplica rige time is applied rules because it seems to have pre-
porque parece haber preexistido. El hombre no existed. Mankind does not believe but in immortal
163. El derecho y el lenguaje no son hacinamientos 163. Law and language are not brute crowdings of voices
brutos de voces o de pautas. Realidades or guidelines. They are specific spiritual realities
espirituales especficas, ambos se desenvuelven and they both display and unroll themselves within
y despliegan dentro de su propio espacio their own intelligible space, and in time, like all that
inteligible y en el tiempo, como todo lo que tiene has its seat in spirit, but not its origin.
164. Las palabras de la ms pura poesa, o de la 164. The words of the purest poetry, or the clearest
prosa ms difana, son huellas de aventuras prose, are fingerprints of mean, laborious, or bloody
mezquinas, laboriosas, o sangrientas; los adventures; the most brilliant rights are vestiges of
derechos ms preclaros son vestigios de daily necessities in tillage and combat. Just as an
menesteres cotidianos en la labranza y el etymological glossary reveals the low lineage of the
combate. As como un glosario etimolgico most golden and subtle words, all juridical
revela la baja estirpe de las voces ms areas y investigations discover the source of venerable
sutiles, as toda investigacin jurdica descubre institutions between decomposed mosses and rotten
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musgos descompuestos y lquenes podridos.
165. Raro es el pueblo en cuyo idioma no se 165. Rare are the people who do not accumulate in their
acumulan los estratos de conquistas sucesivas. language the stratum of successive conquests.
El lenguaje es, como el derecho, la impronta de Language is, like law, the mark of history on human
la historia sobre la carne humana. Todo es flesh. In mankind, all is impurity. Its soul is a brazen
166. El derecho es el perdn que cubre los crmenes 166. Law is the forgiveness that covers past crimes when
pretritos, cuando el consentimiento vierte sus consent pours its expiatory libations on the profaned
libaciones expiatorias sobre altares profanados. altars. But the larva of the crime transforms into an
Pero la larva del delito no se transforma en iridescent butterfly only in the propitious season.
167. El derecho no es un crimen sepultado en el 167. Law is not a crime buried in oblivion, but the
olvido, sino la flor carmnea en que el tiempo crimson flower that time absolves in the
absuelve la putrefaccin de los granos. Los putrefaction of grains. Old usages are law because
viejos usos son derecho, porque los aos ungen years embalm human institutions with the same
las instituciones humanas con la misma noble fragrance that secular wine harvests give to
168. El ms grave atentado contra el hombre es la 168. The severest attack against man is the mutilation of
mutilacin del roble en que cuaj la savia de mil the oak in which it curdled the sap of a thousand
agrias primaveras. Romper la continuidad bitter springs. To break the juridical continuity of a
jurdica de un pueblo es retrotraer la historia people is to take back history to a new bloody
hacia una nueva iniciacin sangrienta, es initiation; it is to begin again the same bitter task.
169. El derecho madura, en la costumbre y en la 169. Law matures in custom and tradition, under
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usanza, bajo los soles cotidianos. El estado quotidian suns. The legitimate state is the august
otoales.
171. La historia extrae de canteras sombras las 171. History extracts from sombre stone pits the statues
estatuas que erige sobre las acrpolis sublimes that it erects on the sublime acropolis.
Traduccin e introduccin por Toms F. Molina Translation and introduction by Toms F. Molina
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