Interpretation in the Law: A Philosophical Look at Originalism

Originalism – the view that the US Constitution ought to be interpreted based on how the notions therein were understood at the time they were adopted – is an important and contentious doctrine. With the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who is an Originalist, the doctrine has come more prominently into public view. In this panel discussion, we will examine the philosophical foundations of Originalism and the role of interpretation in the law more broadly with two young legal scholars: Ben Futernik and Hannah Hsieh, both of whom are Cal State LA alumni. The discussion will be moderated by the Philosophy Department’s Professor Foad Dizadji-Bahmani.

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