Thinking of Norms Spatially

Legal philosophers have for long neglected investigation into the spatial dimensions of legal norms. The authors aim to help to fill this gap by focusing on the question of whether legal norms are spatial entities. To answer this question, they investigate the complex network of relationships that link legal norms to physical, tridimensional and geographic space (i.e. the authors do not investigate space in the metaphorical sense). More precisely, starting from Hans Kelsen, the authors first draw a distinction between two different kinds of spatial spheres of legal norms: the spatial sphere of validity and the spatial sphere of reference. They then investigate the spatial dimensions of legal norms by inquiring into the place of norm-signs. In particular, they consider whether the place in which the sign or the signs of a particular norm are located can affect the spatial spheres of the norm and its content.