Sunstein Vs. Posner: A Theoretical Clash in Law

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D. How Sunstein’s view relates to Posner • Sunstein 's view, in regards to Posner, would be in a general disagreement to the use of wealth maximization to cover all law, to the extent that not using the theory would go against what courts promote. To Posner, judges, in their application of rules and procedures to particular cases, ought to promote wealth maximization. The promotion of wealth maximization requires an ought. This means that to pursue wealth maximization is something that should be done and if not done it would be wrong. • However, to Sunstein, this view is exactly what he is argues against; wherein a high-level theory, a general theory of all law, has a domain over a large portion of law. So large, in fact, that the high-level theory is where all principles and outcomes should come from as absolutes. However, Posner must allow indeterminacy in particular cases; an ambiguity that is filled with low-level principles, that do not directly derive from the theory of wealth maximization. If this can be true, for particular cases, then it can be incompletely theorized and acceptable to Sunstein. But Posner, would hold that his economic approach, that uses wealth maximization, is necessary. An …show more content…

This is because Sunstein uses his theory to suggest that all overarching theories of law require something more. That something more are low-level principles. Low-level principles do exactly what high-level theories do, except the overarching structure. Posner suggests the development and application of rules and procedures to particular cases ought to need wealth maximization; therefore, anything that does not support wealth maximization would cause social waste under the law. But Sunstein states that low-level principles do not put social welfare at risk. So this alludes that Posner 's account of wealth maximization cannot, at the moment, accept Sunstein and his low-level

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