Criticizing the Political System and the Normativity Foundations Through Joseph Raz's Legal and Philosophical Thought
(Mengkritisi Sistem Politik dan Pondasi Normativitas Melalui Pemikiran Hukum dan Filsafat Joseph Raz)
Abstract
Abstract
This article explores constitutional legitimacy through the legal and philosophical lens of Joseph Raz, focusing on the dynamic relationship between political systems, normative reasoning, and public justification. Raz contends that legal authority cannot rely solely on institutional power or formal procedures; it must be supported by reasons that individuals can endorse as morally and rationally acceptable. This insight is especially relevant to constitutional interpretation, where judges must navigate between textual fidelity, evolving democratic norms, and political pressures. Divided into four key discussions, the article first traces
the foundations of Raz’s legal philosophy and its political context. Then, it examines the political system, public reason, and judicial interpretation in Raz’s framework. The third section focuses on the normativity foundations in Raz’s legal and political philosophy landscape. Finally, the article applies these insights to the Indonesian context, where constitutional judging faces challenges from politicized reason justification. Using a philosophical-legal method, this article argues that a Razian approach can help preserve public trust and legal legitimacy by grounding judges to act not only with legal precision but also with ethical discernment, civic responsibility, and publicly justifiable norms rather than in institutional dominance.
Abstrak
Artikel ini menyajikan analisis tentang legitimasi konstitusi melalui pendekatan hukum dan filsafat Joseph Raz, dengan menyoroti hubungan antara sistem politik, alasan normatif, dan pembenaran publik. Raz berpendapat bahwa otoritas hukum tidak dapat semata-mata didasarkan pada kekuasaan institusional atau prosedur formal, melainkan harus dibangun atas dasar alasan yang dapat diterima secara moral dan rasional oleh masyarakat. Pandangan ini sangat relevan dalam praktik interpretasi konstitusi, khususnya di negara seperti Indonesia, di mana tekanan politik kerap memengaruhi proses pengambilan keputusan yudisial. Artikel
ini terbagi dalam empat bagian utama. Bagian pertama membahas dasar-dasar filsafat hukum Raz dan konteks politiknya. Bagian kedua mengkaji konsep sistem politik, nalar publik, and interpretasi yudisial dalam kerangka pemikiran filosofis Raz. Bagian ketiga mengulas fondasi normativitas dalam acuan pemikiran filsafat
hukum dan politik Raz. Bagian keempat menerapkan pemikiran Raz untuk menelaah situasi Indonesia, di mana penegakan konstitusi menghadapi ragam tantangan yaitu justifikasi alasan yang dipolitisasi. Dengan menggunakan metode penelitian filsafat dalam kerangka philosophical-legal, artikel ini menunjukkan
bahwa pendekatan Raz dapat membantu menjaga kepercayaan publik dan legitimasi hukum dengan membumikan hakim harus bertindak tidak hanya berdasarkan presisi hukum tetapi dengan kearifan etis, tanggung jawab sipil, dan norma-norma yang dapat dibenarkan secara publik daripada dalam dominasi kelembagaan.
References
Darji, Darmodiharjo dan Shidarta. Pokok-Pokok Filsafat Hukum Apa dan Bagaimana Filsafat Hukum Indonesia. Jakarta: Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 1995.
D’Entrebes, Alexander Passerin. The Nation of The State: An Introduction to the Political Theory. Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1967.
Dworkin, Ronald M. The Philosophy of Law. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1977.
Eatwell, Roger. et.al. Contemporary Political Ideologiae. London: Continuum, 2001.
George, Robert P. “Joseph Raz Philosopher of Freedom.” Public Discourse the Journal of the Witherspoon Institute. Can be accessed through https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2022/06/83065/. Accessed on February 17, 2025.
Hardiman, F. Budi. Dalam Moncong Oligarki: Skandal Demokrasi di Indonesia. Yogyakarta: Kanisius, 2013.
Hardiman, F.Budi. Demokrasi dan Sentimentalitas. Yogyakarta: Kanisius, 2018.
Hartanto, Joseph Andy. The Philosophy of Legal Reason in Indonesian Law. Beijing Law Review, 2020, 11, 119-127. https://www.scirp.org/journal/blr.
Haryatmoko. Etika Politik dan Kekuasaan. Jakarta: Kompas, 2003.
Held, Virginia. Rights and Goods Justifying Social Action. UK: The Free Press, 1984.
Hunter, Rosemary, Richard Ingleby and Richard Johnstone. Thinking about Law: Perspectives on the History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Law. London and New York: Routledge Taylor and Francis Publishing, 1995.
Jena, Yeremias. “Pemikiran Hannah Arendt mengenai Kekerasan dalam Kekuasaan.” Jurnal Diskursus Vol.10 No.2 (Oktober 2011): 166-190.
Lev, Daniel S. Hukum dan Politik di Indonesia: Kesinambungan dan Perubahan. Jakarta: LP3ES, 1990.
Manan, Bagir dan Susi Dwi Harijanti. Memahami Konstitusi: Makna dan Aktualisasi. Rajagrafindo Persada, Depok, 2015.
Manullang, E. Fernando M. Menggapai Hukum Berkeadilan: Tinjauan Hukum Kodrat dan Antinomi Nilai. Jakarta: Kompas, 2007.
Manullang, E. Fernando M. Legisme, Legalitas, dan Kepastian Hukum. Jakarta: Prenada Media Group, 2016.
Manullang, E. Fernando M. “Penafsiran Teleologis/Sosiologis, Penafsiran Purposive dan Aharon Barak: Suatu Refleksi Kritis.” Veritas et Justitia Vol.5 No.2 (2019): 262-285.
Manullang, E. Fernando M. “Anomali Seputar Yurisprudensi: Sebuah Telaah Arkeologis Foucaldian.” Jurnal Mimbar Hukum Universitas Gadjah Mada Vol.36 No.2 (2024): 365-392.
Miller, David. Political Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford UK: Oxford University Press, 2003.
Patterson, Dennis. Blackwell Companion to Philosophy: A Companion to Philosophy of Law and Legal Theory. US dan UK: Blackwell Publishing, 2010.
Pitseys, John. “Publicity and Transparency: The Status of Representation and Political Visibility in Kelsen and Schmitt”. Revue française de science politique (English Edition) Vol.66 No.1 (2016).
Priyono, Herry B. Kebebasan, Keadilan, dan Kekuasaan: Filsafat Politik and What It Is All About. Jakarta: Gramedia, 2022.
Purwanti, Ani et.al. Konstruksi Hukum dalam Perspektif Spiritual Pluralistik: Kumpulan Pemikiran dalam Rangka Purnabakti Prof.Dr.Esmi Warassih Pujirahayu, S.H., M.S. Yogyakarta: Thafamedia, 2021.
Raz, Joseph. Between Authority and Interpretation on the Theory of Law and Practical Reason. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.
Raz, Joseph. From Normativity to Responsibility. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011.
Raz, Joseph. The Roots of Normativity. Oxford UK: Oxford University Press, 2022.
Riyanto, Armada. Relasionalitas Filsafat Fondasi Interpretasi: Aku, Teks, Liyan, Fenomen. Yogyakarta: PT Kanisius, 2018.
Rohman, Fatkhur. “Partai Politik, Pilihan Demokrasi atau Kekuasaan?.” Jurnal Ide Inspirasi Demokrasi No.8 Edisi Juni 2016.
Sekretariat Jenderal dan Kepaniteraan Mahkamah Konstitusi dan Universitas Gadjah Mada. Kongres Pancasila: Pancasila dalam Berbagai Perspektif. Jakarta: Sekretariat Jenderal dan Kepaniteraan Mahkamah Konstitusi Republik Indonesia, 2009.
Shidarta. Hukum Penalaran dan Penalaran Hukum: Buku I Akar Filosofis. Yogyakarta: Genta Publishing, 2013.
Silalahi, Artha Debora. “Paradoks Ide Negara Hukum dalam Justifikasi Filosofis Pancasila sebagai Sumber Hukum,” Jurnal Konstitusi Vol.21 Issue 1 (March 2024): 62-76. https://doi.org/10.31078/jk2114.
Silalahi, Artha Debora. “Some Debates of Hermeneutic and Legal Interpretation: Critical Analysis of Hans-Georg Gadamer Philosophical Hermeneutics.” Jurnal Mimbar Hukum Universitas Gadjah Mada Vol.36 No.1 (June 2024): 213-233. https://doi.org/10.22146/mh.v36i1.9493.
Silalahi, Artha Debora., et.al. “Axiological Insights into Unveiling Independent Constitutional Judge Decisionism.” Yustisia Jurnal Hukum Vol.13 No.3 (2024): 230-245. https://doi.org/10.20961/yustisia.v13i3.85127.
Verdirame, Guglielmo. “Human Rights in Political and Legal Theory.” King’s College London Dickson Poon School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper Series: Paper No. 2014-31.
Wattimena, Reza. Filsafat Kata. Jakarta: PT Evolitera, 2011.
Copyright (c) 2025 Artha Debora Silalahi

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.