légalitarisme

Légalitarisme is a term used to describe the view that legality constitutes a central criterion of moral evaluation. In this perspective, the rightness of actions and policies is largely determined by their conformity to laws and legal procedures, and adherence to legal norms is considered a primary virtue in public life. Some variants treat legality as a sufficient condition for moral justification, while others view it as a necessary condition that operates alongside other ethical considerations.

The term is not widely used as a canonical position in mainstream philosophy and appears mainly in discussions about how law and morality relate. It is distinct from broader debates about the rule of law, legal positivism, or civil disobedience, though it intersects with them: while legal positivism concerns the sources and validity of law, légalitarisme emphasizes the moral weight attributed to legal compliance.

Critics warn that a strict focus on legality can legitimate unjust laws or procedures and may conflict with higher moral duties or fundamental rights. Proponents respond by distinguishing formal legality from substantive justice, arguing that lawful processes provide a stable framework for ethical decision-making or that illegality should be addressed through reform rather than general disobedience.

Because the concept is relatively niche, légalitarisme is typically discussed within broader legal and political philosophy rather than as an independent, widely accepted theory. See also: rule of law, legal positivism, civil disobedience, legal ethics.