On the evening of May 25th, the 121st session of the BNU Distinguished Jurist Lecture Series, coupled with the 10th lecture in the "Cuizhu Fadu" series hosted by the Center for Basic Theoretical Legal Studies, unfolded in Conference Room 1822 of the Rear Main Building at the Haidian campus of Beijing Normal University. The featured speaker for this session was Professor Brian Bix from the University of Minnesota. Serving as panelists were Professor Wang Qinghua, Associate Professor Ma Jianyin from the Law School, Associate Professor Ju Fengkui from the Philosophy School, and Feng Wei from China University of Political Science and Law. The lecture was moderated by Professor Xia Yang from the Law School of Beijing Normal University.

At the commencement of the lecture, Professor Xia Yang extended a warm welcome to Professor Brian Bix and offered a comprehensive overview of his academic credentials and research domains.

In his speech, Professor Brian Bix delved into the theoretical notions of "rights" as articulated by Alf Ross and Karl Olivie Krona, scrutinizing the critiques these two eminent representatives of Scandinavian legal positivism leveled against the substantiality of legal rights. Professor Bix highlighted that Ross perceives legal rights as predictive instruments for court behavior, underscoring the pragmatic role of legal language rather than its reference to some independently existing entity. Conversely, Krona adopts a more radical viewpoint, considering "rights" as a form of "magical language" wielding psychological manipulation effects—essentially, a tool-like language employed by the legal system to steer conduct. Professor Bix further juxtaposed the methodological and normative disparities in their theories, accentuating the profound implications this theoretical tradition holds for contemporary debates on legal rights, analyses of legal language, and comprehension of legal practice. Towards the conclusion of his speech, Professor Bix urged caution against the potential risk of normative hollowing that may stem from the instrumentalization of language, while simultaneously advocating for respect for the operational laws inherent in the legal system.

During the discussion segment, Professors Wang Qinghua, Xia Yang, Associate Professor Ma Jianyin, Associate Professor Ju Fengkui, and Feng Wei engaged in an in-depth exchange regarding the concept of rights proposed by Professor Brian Bix and its evolution and challenges in the context of contemporary governance.

During the interactive session, Professor Brian Bix and the participating students delved into a profound dialogue concerning pivotal issues, including the essence of legal rights, the role of language within the legal framework, and the insights that Scandinavian legal positivism offers to contemporary jurisprudence. The ambiance was vibrant, epitomizing a robust and intellectually stimulating academic setting.

This lecture offered a forward-looking exploration into the ontological essence of legal rights and their dynamic functional evolution within the realms of language and governance frameworks. It furnished significant theoretical perspectives and practical benchmarks for comprehending the progression of the rule of law concept in contemporary society.

Typesetting: Xu Yiyang

Editor: Shi Tianyu