Luis Recasens

Luis Recasens Siches (1903-1977) was a prominent Spanish and Mexican jurist and legal philosopher. He is best known for his contributions to legal axiology and his development of the concept of "reasonable human logic" (Spanish: lógica de lo razonable humana), which he presented as an alternative to purely formalistic and positivist approaches to law.

Recasens Siches argued that legal interpretation and application require not only knowledge of legal rules but also a consideration of values, social realities, and the specific circumstances of each case. He believed that law should serve justice and contribute to a harmonious social order. His work emphasized the importance of practical reason and ethical considerations in the legal field.

He studied law at the University of Madrid, where he also later taught. Following the Spanish Civil War, he went into exile in Mexico, where he continued his academic career at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). His writings have been influential in legal philosophy, particularly in Latin America and Spain, contributing to the development of a more contextual and value-oriented approach to legal thinking. Key works include Nueva Filosofía de la Interpretación del Derecho (New Philosophy of Legal Interpretation) and Tratado General de Filosofía del Derecho (General Treatise on the Philosophy of Law).