THE EXISTENTIALIST FOUNDATIONS OF LAW BY TUNOI PHILIP KIPTOO A THESIS SUBMITTED IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN PHILOSOPHY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI JULY 2013 DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other University. _________________ __________________ Tunoi, Philip Kiptoo Date C80/9202/06 This thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as University Supervisors. _________________ __________________ Prof. Joseph M. Nyasani Date _________________ __________________ Prof. Jack Odhiambo Date ii DEDICATION Dedicated to my late mother Teriki for her inspiration and encouragement in my pursuit of higher education. I will always be grateful to her. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My greatest and sincere gratitude goes to my supervisors Prof. J.M. Nyasani and Prof. Jack Odhiambo for their diligent and scholarly guidance that led to the actualization of this work. I am also grateful for the encouragement from the members of staff of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies; and principally, the extra-ordinary interest and efforts of the serving Chairmen for their direction towards this work. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page THE EXISTENTIALIST FOUNDATIONS OF LAW ................................................................... i DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................ ii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................... v ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... x CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................... 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the Study ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem .......................................................................................................... 2 1.3 General concept of the law in Kenya ........................................................................................ 4 1.4 Objectives ................................................................................................................................. 8 1.5 Justifications and Significance of the study .............................................................................. 9 1.6 Literature Review.................................................................................................................... 10 1.7 Scope and Limitations............................................................................................................. 21 1.8 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................................................... 21 1.9 Hypothesis............................................................................................................................... 23 1.10 Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 24 1.11 Definition of Terms.............................................................................................................. 24 1.12 Conclusions and observations .............................................................................................. 25 CHAPTER TWO ......................................................................................................................... 26 EXISTENTIALISM ........................................................................................................................ 26 v 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 26 2.2 The Elements of Existentialism .............................................................................................. 27 2.3 Existence as a Philosophical Problem..................................................................................... 29 2.4 The Problem of the Existential Essence of Man ..................................................................... 30 2.5 Freedom as the Foundation of Human Existence ................................................................... 32 2.6 Legal Existentialism................................................................................................................ 35 2.7 Existentialism and Abortion ................................................................................................... 39 2.8 Existentialism and Religion .................................................................................................... 40 2.9 Existentialism and choice ....................................................................................................... 41 2.10 Existentialism, Death Penalty and Fundamentalism ............................................................. 44 2.11 Authenticity and the Singularity of Existence ...................................................................... 46 2.12 Legal Burial Disputes in Kenya: Wambui Otieno‟s Case .................................................... 49 2.13 Conclusion and Observations ............................................................................................... 50 CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................. 52 THE NATURE OF LAW ............................................................................................................. 52 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 52 3.2 The Constitutive Elements of Law ........................................................................................................ 53 3.3 Criterion of Legal Validity .................................................................................................................... 57 3.4 The Normative Element of Law ............................................................................................................ 64 3.5 A Critical Analysis of Legal Principles and Political Ideology ............................................................ 72 3.6 Conclusion and Observations................................................................................................................ 74 CHAPTER FOUR ...................................................................................................................... 75 LAW VERSUS MORALITY ..................................................................................................... 75 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 75 4.2 Existentialism, Law, and Morals ............................................................................................ 78 vi 4.3 Morality as a source of law ..................................................................................................... 78 4.4 Law as an influence on Morals ............................................................................................... 80 4.5 Existentialism and Quasi – Contracts Law ............................................................................. 83 4.6 The Source of Moral Values .................................................................................................. 87 4.7 Existentialist Morality in a Secular Legal Context ............................................................... 92 4.8 Conclusion and Observations ................................................................................................. 95 CHAPTER FIVE ......................................................................................................................... 97 DEMARCATION OF THE EXISTENTIAL FOUNDATIONS OF LAW ........ 97 5.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 97 5.1 The Obligations in the face of Law......................................................................................... 98 5.2 The Legally –Imposed Obligations ....................................................................................... 99 5.3. The Doctrine of Legal Legitimacy ....................................................................................... 103 5.4 The Dilemma of Legal Obligation ........................................................................................ 108 5.5 Theories of Political Obligation .......................................................................................... 110 5.6 Non-Voluntarist theories ....................................................................................................... 110 5.6.1 Constitutive Obligations ............................................................................................