törvényisztikus

Törvényisztikus is an adjective used in Hungarian to describe an approach, attitude, or person characterized by strict adherence to statutory law and the formal structure of legal rules. The term combines törvény (law or statute) with a suffix form akin to -istic, indicating a doctrine or method.

In legal theory and discourse, törvényisztikus can refer to a legalistic or textualist perspective that prioritizes the written statute as the primary source of law. Proponents tend to emphasize the literal text, definitions, and normative boundaries set by statutes, and may treat interpretation as a matter of applying the text with minimal reference to extrinsic factors such as moral, political, or customary considerations. The term is sometimes used descriptively to characterize judges, scholars, or disciplines that foreground statutory provisions and formal criteria in legal reasoning.

The concept is related to, but distinct from, other jurisprudential orientations. It contrasts with approaches that stress natural law, moral reasoning, or sociopolitical context, such as legal realism or theories that give weight to judicial practice and outcomes. In Hungarian scholarship, törvényisztikus arguments often appear in discussions of statutory interpretation, constitutional hermeneutics, and the limits of legislative drafting.

Etymology reflects its core focus on law (törvény) and an -isztikus suffix that marks a methodological stance. While not a universally standardized term, törvényisztikus is used to label a vigilant, text-centered approach to law within Hungarian academic and professional writing.