Hermeneutic reaches of Carl Schmitt's legal thought

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to justify that, in his early works, Carl Schmitt, based on his legal and political analysis, elucidates some ontological structures that operate in all human understanding. In particular, we will show that the German jurist identifies and delves into finitude and historicality (in its personal and epochal sense). We will also see that this leads him to question the role of metaphysics, language and decisions in the interpretation and configuration of the world. Put another way, we will argue, following readings such as those of Ojakangas and Herrera, that the thematization of the legal and political phenomenon leads Schmitt to propose a theory of human understanding with general implications.