Truth and Consequence: Complementing Logic with Values in Legal Reasoning

In this paper I discuss attempts to model legal reasoning with case precedents. I draw attention to the need to consider not only the factors in a case, but also the social purposes that are served by deciding cases with reference to these factors. I show how considering such purposes allow us to give more predictive power to precedents; to discriminate between arguments advanced on the basis of factors; and to explain how the law can evolve as social attitudes change.