Pseudolaw and the illusion of legal meaning

This article is an overview of the contemporary phenomenon of pseudolaw and argues that, at its heart, it involves a mistaking of the form of legal argumentation for its substance. Essentially, through the use of legalistic language, archaic sources and strange rituals, an illusion of legal meaning is created which tricks users into believing their actions are legally meaningful. This article argues that it shares common features with generative AI, in that it produces an illusion of meaning which users mistake for actual meaning. It then explores this juxtaposition and its implications for responses to pseudolaw

Cognitive psychology · Epistemology · Illusion · Law and economics · Meaning (existential · Political science · Sociology · Comparative and International Law Studies · Law · Law in Society and Culture · Philosophy · Psychology