Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici
Encyclopedia
Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici (b. 1930) is a Maltese retired Chief Justice
, and minor philosopher. He mostly specialised in the philosophy of law.
, Malta
, on July 17, 1930. He began his studies at the University of Malta
from where, in 1958, he became Doctor of Law. Before that, in 1955, he was Malta
’s chess
champion. After graduating as a lawyer
, he continued his studies in Rome
at the Gregorio del Vecchio Institute of the Sapienza University of Rome. He began teaching philosophy of law at the University of Malta
in 1966, and continued teaching for three decades, right up to his retirement in 1995. He was appointed Professor of the Philosophy of Law in 1988.
Also in 1988 Mifsud Bonnici was appointed Judge
of the Maltese Superior Courts
. Two years later, in 1990, he was made Chief Justice
, and President of the Courts of Appeal and President of the Constitutional Court, offices he held up till his retirement in 1995. Meantime, in 1992, he served as Judge
of the European Court of Human Rights
in Strasbourg
, a service he maintained until 1998. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Legal Studies of London
, England
.
. Most of his published studies deal with legal matters, including fundamental human rights and freedoms. Rather technical in nature, these publications do not interest philosophy
directly.
Of a different nature is his 178-page book, co-authored with Mark A. Sammut
, Il-Ligi, il-Morali u r-Raguni (Law, Morality and Reason), published in 2008 (Ius Melitæ). The composition is basically a sort of dialogue between the two authors (alternatively, it is an interview with Mifsud Bonnici). It is divided in into five main parts dealing with a number of themes, from purely legal technicalities to philosophical topics. Though the style is quite loose and colloquial – with the discussion sometimes drifting into mere side observations – philosophical arguments are proposed for a number of subjects, such as bioethics
, religion
, matrimony (including same-sex marriage
, freedom of expression, the administration of justice
, and the like.
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
, and minor philosopher. He mostly specialised in the philosophy of law.
Life
Mifsud Bonnici was born in CospicuaCospicua
Ċittà Cottonera, Ċittà Cospicua, Cospicua is a double-fortified harbour city on the Mediterranean island of Malta. It is the largest of the Three Cities. It was also given a title as Citta' Cottonera, but erroneously the title is now used to define the whole region...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, on July 17, 1930. He began his studies at the University of Malta
University of Malta
The University of Malta is the highest educational institution in Malta Europe and is one of the most respected universities in Europe. The University offers undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees, postgraduate Master's Degrees and postgraduate Doctorates .-History:The University of Malta was founded in...
from where, in 1958, he became Doctor of Law. Before that, in 1955, he was Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
’s chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
champion. After graduating as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, he continued his studies in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
at the Gregorio del Vecchio Institute of the Sapienza University of Rome. He began teaching philosophy of law at the University of Malta
University of Malta
The University of Malta is the highest educational institution in Malta Europe and is one of the most respected universities in Europe. The University offers undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees, postgraduate Master's Degrees and postgraduate Doctorates .-History:The University of Malta was founded in...
in 1966, and continued teaching for three decades, right up to his retirement in 1995. He was appointed Professor of the Philosophy of Law in 1988.
Also in 1988 Mifsud Bonnici was appointed Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the Maltese Superior Courts
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
. Two years later, in 1990, he was made Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
, and President of the Courts of Appeal and President of the Constitutional Court, offices he held up till his retirement in 1995. Meantime, in 1992, he served as Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, a service he maintained until 1998. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Legal Studies of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Works
Philosophically, Mifsud Bonnici is an adherent of the Aristotelian-Thomistic school of ScholasticismScholasticism
Scholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
. Most of his published studies deal with legal matters, including fundamental human rights and freedoms. Rather technical in nature, these publications do not interest philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
directly.
Of a different nature is his 178-page book, co-authored with Mark A. Sammut
Mark A. Sammut
Mark A. Sammut has written A Short History of Latvia/L-Istorja tal-Latvja fil-Qosor and co-written, with Professor Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici, former European Court of Human Rights Judge and former Chief Justice of Malta, Il-Liġi, il-Morali, u r-Raġuni [Law, Morality and Reason]...
, Il-Ligi, il-Morali u r-Raguni (Law, Morality and Reason), published in 2008 (Ius Melitæ). The composition is basically a sort of dialogue between the two authors (alternatively, it is an interview with Mifsud Bonnici). It is divided in into five main parts dealing with a number of themes, from purely legal technicalities to philosophical topics. Though the style is quite loose and colloquial – with the discussion sometimes drifting into mere side observations – philosophical arguments are proposed for a number of subjects, such as bioethics
Bioethics
Bioethics is the study of controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology and medicine. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, and philosophy....
, religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, matrimony (including same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
, freedom of expression, the administration of justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
, and the like.
Sources
- Mark Montebello, Il-Ktieb tal-Filosofija f’Malta (A Source Book of Philosophy in Malta), PIN Publications, Malta, 2001.