Between Facts and Norms - Contributions to a ... - Blogs Unpad

31Law as Social Mediation between Facts and Normsquences in the case of a violation. On the other hand, for an actorwho wants to reach an understanding with others about the jointlyobserved conditions for each's successful actions, the norm's claimto validity, along with the possibility of critically reexamining thisclaim, binds the actor's "free will" (Willen) . Keeping these alternativesopen does not imply a fusion of the moments that continue tobe incompatible from the actor's point of view. Depending on thechosen perspective, the legal norm presents a different kind ofsituational element: for the person acting strategically, it lies at thelevel of social facts that externally restrict her range of options; forthe person acting communicatively, it lies at the level of obligatoryexpectations that, she assumes, the legal community has rationallyagreed on. Thus the actor, taking in each case a different point ofview, will ascribe to a legally valid regulation either the status of a ·fact with predictable consequences or the deontological bindingcharacter of a normative expectation. The legal validity of a normandthis is its point-means, now, that two things are guaranteed atthe same time: both the legality ofbehavior, in the sense of an averagenorm compliance that, if necessary, is enforced by sanctions; andthe legitimacy of the rule itself, which always makes it possible tofollow the norm out of respect for the law.We can see this dual perspective on law-legal norms as bothenforceable laws and laws offreedom-by looking at private rights.Inasmuch as these norms leave open the motives for rule-conformingbehavior, we might say they "tolerate" an actor's strategicattitude toward the individual norm. As elements of a legal orderthat is legitimate as a whole, they appear at the same time with anormative validity claim that expects a rationally motivated recognition.As such, they at least invite the addressees to follow themfrom the nonenforceable motive of duty. This invitation meansthat the legal order must always make it possible to obey its rules outof respect for the law. This analysis of the mode of validity connectedwith coercible law thus has implications for lawmaking:positive law, too, must be legitimate.A legal order must not only guarantee that the rights of eachperson are in fact recognized by all other persons; the reciprocalrecognition of the rights of each by all must in addition be based onlaws that are legitimate insofar as they grant equal liberties to each,