Theoretical Authority of the International Court of Justice

The logic of law could not be limited to formal logic, because law is the domain of value judgments which are alien to mathematical demonstration and empirical test. The logic of law is logic of persuasion and argumentation. Argumentation theory is about arguments applicable to value judgments. One of the arguments in this theory is "argument from authority". In This particular argument, theoretical authority of a person or institution is utilized to argue in favor of a proposition. The Opinions of the international court of justice, as a renowned international judicial institution, are relied upon in many discourses at international level; but successful appeal to theoretical authority of the court, needs to meet certain criteria. The survey of these criteria in regard to the "argument from authority of the international court of justice" would help us to understand the role of this judicial institution in international arena.