Concluding remarks on virtue and the rule of law: taking stock and looking ahead

Amalia Amaya

Chapter 12 in Virtues and the Rule of Law, 2026, pp 230-241 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Moving beyond purely formal or institutional conceptions of the rule of law, the book develops the idea of the rule of law as an institutional ethos sustained by virtues such as practical wisdom, fidelity, moderation, reflexivity, and civic responsibility. Through historical and theoretical analyses, as well as role-based examinations of judges, lawyers, and other legal actors, the contributors show how virtues function as internal resources of legal practice, enabling resistance to arbitrariness and democratic decline. The concluding chapter highlights future directions of research necessary for advancing a virtue-based account of the rule of law, arguing that its resilience depends not only on institutions and procedures but also on the character of legal officials and citizens. Potential developments include, among others, the study of collective virtue, emotion, human flourishing, education, empirical research, and contemporary challenges such as populism, inequality, and technological change.

Keywords: Rule of Law; Virtue Jurisprudence; Institutional Ethos; Practical Wisdom; Civic Virtue; Democratic Resilience (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035398072
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