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Re:CatalaLang/catala: Programming language for law specifica... by p-e-w on Monday September 18, 2023 @01:00AM (#37552406)
Indeed. Ambiguity in legal codes is a feature that allows them to remain relevant for more than a couple of years, and the formal-law "utopia" that some commenters here appear to desire would be a nightmare if put into practice.
Re:CatalaLang/catala: Programming language for law specifica... by alexvitkov on Monday September 18, 2023 @01:38AM (#37552599)
Personally I'd rather have laws that work, are consistent and easily understood if you can follow 'if A then B' logic, even if they have to be updated more often.

Relying on ambiguity is admitting there are no laws, and we rely on the common sense of the people in thr judicial system.

Re:CatalaLang/catala: Programming language for law specifica... by TuringTest on Monday September 18, 2023 @02:43AM (#37553023)
> Relying on ambiguity is admitting there are no laws, and we rely on the common sense of the people in thr judicial system.

What's better:

- relying on the common sense of the people in the judicial system to interpret the intent of the law as it applies to a particular situation,

- or relying on the common sense of legislators to write a precise, unambiguous law that will cover all possible situations without negative unintended consequences, and without the law-writing process being influenced by spureous interests and pressures?

The answer highlight why the law is interpreted as is now, with a body of trained public servants analyzing the particulars of each situation, rather than by fanatics trying to follow the letter of the law.

Languages like this may help clarify the intent of legislators so that it is not twisted by clever lawyers; but a human reviewer should always check the relevance of one law to any particular case, and wether the text corresponds to the original intent as applied to a given situation.

Re:CatalaLang/catala: Programming language for law specifica... by mratsim on Monday September 18, 2023 @03:04AM (#37553168)
They mean disputes go on for years, costing society a lot and enriching intermediaries.
Re:CatalaLang/catala: Programming language for law specifica... by insanitybit on Monday September 18, 2023 @08:34AM (#37555292)
Exactly, it is truly horrifying to think of a law encoded such that it can not be superseded by human interpretation.