Reformasi Hukum
Vol 29 No 3 (2025): December Edition

The Philosophy of Law as a Gateway to Understanding Law

Asa, Agam Ibnu (Unknown)
Shidarta, Shidarta (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Dec 2025

Abstract

The philosophy of law plays a foundational role in conceptualizing law beyond its formal structure as written rules, particularly in legal systems marked by tensions between positive law and substantive justice, such as Indonesia. This study examines how philosophy of law functions as an epistemic gateway to understanding the nature, authority, and normative grounding of law by integrating classical and modern jurisprudential traditions. Employing a juridical-philosophical method with a qualitative-descriptive approach based on doctrinal and theoretical analysis, the research engages natural law theory, legal positivism, legal realism, and critical approaches. The findings indicate that the relationship between law and morality cannot be reduced to a rigid dichotomy; instead, these traditions provide complementary analytical frameworks for assessing legal validity, legitimacy, and justice. By situating these perspectives within Indonesia’s plural legal context, the study demonstrates the continuing relevance of philosophical inquiry for legal interpretation and institutional reform. It concludes that strengthening philosophical foundations in legal education is essential to foster reflective legal reasoning and to bridge the gap between formal legality and substantive justice.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

jrh

Publisher

Subject

Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Description

We are interested in topics which relate generally to Law issues in Indonesia and around the world. Articles submitted might cover topical issues in, such as : Civil Law, Criminal Law, Civil Procedural Law, Criminal Procedure Law, Commercial Law, Constitutional Law, International Law, State ...