Antonin Scalia’s Constitutional Textualism: The Problem of Justice to Posterity
Antonin Scalia defends his textualist approach to interpreting the Constitution by asserting that the purpose of the Constitution is to restrict the range of options open to future generations by enshrining institutional arrangements and practices in constitutional mandates or prohibitions. For this...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Tübingen University
2012-05-01
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| Series: | Intergenerational Justice Review |
| Online Access: | https://igjr.org/ojs/index.php/igjr/article/view/461 |
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| _version_ | 1823861151337807872 |
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| author | Bruce E. Auerbach Michelle Reinhart |
| author_facet | Bruce E. Auerbach Michelle Reinhart |
| author_sort | Bruce E. Auerbach |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Antonin Scalia defends his textualist approach to interpreting the Constitution by asserting that the purpose of the Constitution is to restrict the range of options open to future generations by enshrining institutional arrangements and practices in constitutional mandates or prohibitions. For this purpose to be fulfilled, justices of the Supreme Court must read the language of the Constitution according to its original meaning. We argue there is little reason to believe that Scalia’s understanding is correct. Neither the language of the Constitution nor the writings of Jefferson or Madison are consistent with Scalia’s interpretation. More importantly, the goal Scalia posits, of seeking to restrict the range of options open to future generations, is intergenerationally unjust. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fa890a379fab423490cc16a7e35025c0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2190-6335 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-05-01 |
| publisher | Tübingen University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Intergenerational Justice Review |
| spelling | doaj-art-fa890a379fab423490cc16a7e35025c02025-02-10T05:00:37ZengTübingen UniversityIntergenerational Justice Review2190-63352012-05-011Antonin Scalia’s Constitutional Textualism: The Problem of Justice to PosterityBruce E. Auerbach0Michelle Reinhart1Albright College, Department of Political ScienceAlbright College, Department of Political ScienceAntonin Scalia defends his textualist approach to interpreting the Constitution by asserting that the purpose of the Constitution is to restrict the range of options open to future generations by enshrining institutional arrangements and practices in constitutional mandates or prohibitions. For this purpose to be fulfilled, justices of the Supreme Court must read the language of the Constitution according to its original meaning. We argue there is little reason to believe that Scalia’s understanding is correct. Neither the language of the Constitution nor the writings of Jefferson or Madison are consistent with Scalia’s interpretation. More importantly, the goal Scalia posits, of seeking to restrict the range of options open to future generations, is intergenerationally unjust.https://igjr.org/ojs/index.php/igjr/article/view/461 |
| spellingShingle | Bruce E. Auerbach Michelle Reinhart Antonin Scalia’s Constitutional Textualism: The Problem of Justice to Posterity Intergenerational Justice Review |
| title | Antonin Scalia’s Constitutional Textualism: The Problem of Justice to Posterity |
| title_full | Antonin Scalia’s Constitutional Textualism: The Problem of Justice to Posterity |
| title_fullStr | Antonin Scalia’s Constitutional Textualism: The Problem of Justice to Posterity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antonin Scalia’s Constitutional Textualism: The Problem of Justice to Posterity |
| title_short | Antonin Scalia’s Constitutional Textualism: The Problem of Justice to Posterity |
| title_sort | antonin scalia s constitutional textualism the problem of justice to posterity |
| url | https://igjr.org/ojs/index.php/igjr/article/view/461 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bruceeauerbach antoninscaliasconstitutionaltextualismtheproblemofjusticetoposterity AT michellereinhart antoninscaliasconstitutionaltextualismtheproblemofjusticetoposterity |