Dworkin’s interpretationism: between subjectivism and objectivism?

Abstract

In this paper I present Dworkin’s interpretationism, emphasizing how it aims to avoid presuppositions of the positivist, objectivist and subjectivist positions. I do this in the first part of the article, in which I begin with a general discussion of the process, then refine the discussion by relating it to literary interpretation and close by showing in what sense Dworkin is proposing an interpretative technique. In the second part, based on this characterization of Dworkin's model, I discuss whether he is able to avoid subjectivism without becoming committed to objectivist presuppositions. I will argue that Dworkin manages to avoid objectivism, but commits himself to a subjectivist position.