The Dialectic of The National Criminal Code and The Living Law: A Philosophical Approach to Contemporary Criminal Law

Dwinanda Linchia Levi Heningdyah Nikolas Kusumawardhani

doi:10.47268/pamali.v5i2.3037

The Dialectic of The National Criminal Code and The Living Law: A Philosophical Approach to Contemporary Criminal Law

Dwinanda Linchia Levi Heningdyah Nikolas Kusumawardhani⁽¹⁾

(1) Faculty of Law, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia
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Corresponding Author

Abstract

Introduction: This study examines the dialectical relationship between the National Criminal Code and the living law through the contemporary criminal law philosophy approach. The existence of the Criminal Code as a formal legal product of the state is often in tension with the customary law system and the values that live in pluralistic Indonesian society.

Purposes of the Research: This research aims to analyze the patterns of interaction, contradictions, and potential harmonization between the two legal systems.

Methods of the Research: Using juridical-philosophical research methods and legal hermeneutic approaches, this study explores the ontological, epistemological, and axiological dimensions of the dialectic.

Results Main Findings of the Research: The results of the study show that despite paradigmatic tensions, the two legal systems can run in a complementary manner through an integrated legal pluralism recognition mechanism. This research offers a new conceptual framework in understanding the nature of criminal law that is responsive to social change but still upholds legal certainty. The findings of the research have implications for the urgency of reformulating the Criminal Code that accommodates the living law while maintaining the fundamental principles of modern criminal law, especially legality, proportionality, and protection of human rights. This dialectical approach is an important foundation for the development of a contextual, fair, and sustainable Indonesian criminal law system.

Keywords

Criminal Code; The Living Law; Legal Dialectics; Legal Pluralism; Criminal Justice System.

DOI

10.47268/pamali.v5i2.3037

Published

2025-07-31

How To Cite

APA: Kusumawardhani, D.L. (2025). The Dialectic of The National Criminal Code and The Living Law: A Philosophical Approach to Contemporary Criminal Law. PAMALI: Pattimura Magister Law Review, 5(2), 244-252. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47268/pamali.v5i2.3037.

IEEE: D.L. Kusumawardhani, "The Dialectic of The National Criminal Code and The Living Law: A Philosophical Approach to Contemporary Criminal Law", Pamali Pattimura Magister Law Rev., vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 244-252, Jul. 2025. Accessed on: Sep. 23, 2025. [Online]. Available DOI: https://doi.org/10.47268/pamali.v5i2.3037

Harvard: Kusumawardhani, D.L., (2025). "The Dialectic of The National Criminal Code and The Living Law: A Philosophical Approach to Contemporary Criminal Law". PAMALI: Pattimura Magister Law Review, Volume 5(2), pp. 244-252. [Online]. Available DOI: https://doi.org/10.47268/pamali.v5i2.3037 (Accessed on: 23 September 2025)

Chicago: Kusumawardhani, Dwinanda Linchia Levi Heningdyah Nikolas. "The Dialectic of The National Criminal Code and The Living Law: A Philosophical Approach to Contemporary Criminal Law." PAMALI: Pattimura Magister Law Review 5, no. 2 (July 31, 2025): 244-252. Accessed September 23, 2025. doi:10.47268/pamali.v5i2.3037

Vancouver: Kusumawardhani DL. The Dialectic of The National Criminal Code and The Living Law: A Philosophical Approach to Contemporary Criminal Law. Pamali Pattimura Magister Law Rev. [Internet]. 2025 Jul 31 [cited 2025 Sep 23];5(2):244-252. Available from: https://doi.org/10.47268/pamali.v5i2.3037

MLA 8th: Kusumawardhani, Dwinanda Linchia Levi Heningdyah Nikolas. "The Dialectic of The National Criminal Code and The Living Law: A Philosophical Approach to Contemporary Criminal Law." PAMALI: Pattimura Magister Law Review, vol. 5, no. 2, 31 Jul. 2025, pp. 244-252, doi:10.47268/pamali.v5i2.3037. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.

BibTeX:

@article{pamali3037,
		author = {Dwinanda Kusumawardhani},
		title = {The Dialectic of The National Criminal Code and The Living Law: A Philosophical Approach to Contemporary Criminal Law},
		journal = {PAMALI: Pattimura Magister Law Review},
		volume = {5},
		number = {2},
		year = {2025},
		keywords = {Criminal Code; The Living Law; Legal Dialectics; Legal Pluralism; Criminal Justice System.},
		abstract = {Introduction: This study examines the dialectical relationship between the National Criminal Code and the living law through the contemporary criminal law philosophy approach. The existence of the Criminal Code as a formal legal product of the state is often in tension with the customary law system and the values that live in pluralistic Indonesian society.Purposes of the Research: This research aims to analyze the patterns of interaction, contradictions, and potential harmonization between the two legal systems.Methods of the Research: Using juridical-philosophical research methods and legal hermeneutic approaches, this study explores the ontological, epistemological, and axiological dimensions of the dialectic.Results Main Findings of the Research: The results of the study show that despite paradigmatic tensions, the two legal systems can run in a complementary manner through an integrated legal pluralism recognition mechanism. This research offers a new conceptual framework in understanding the nature of criminal law that is responsive to social change but still upholds legal certainty. The findings of the research have implications for the urgency of reformulating the Criminal Code that accommodates the living law while maintaining the fundamental principles of modern criminal law, especially legality, proportionality, and protection of human rights. This dialectical approach is an important foundation for the development of a contextual, fair, and sustainable Indonesian criminal law system.},
				issn = {2775-5649},		pages = {244--252}			doi = {10.47268/pamali.v5i2.3037},
				url = {https://fhukum.unpatti.ac.id/jurnal/pamali/article/view/3037}
		}

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Dublin Core		PKP Metadata Items	Metadata for this Document

1.	Title	Title of document	The Dialectic of The National Criminal Code and The Living Law: A Philosophical Approach to Contemporary Criminal Law

2.	Creator	Author's name, affiliation, country	Dwinanda Linchia Levi Heningdyah Nikolas Kusumawardhani; Faculty of Law, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Semarang, Semarang; Indonesia

3.	Subject	Discipline(s)

3.	Subject	Keyword(s)	Criminal Code; The Living Law; Legal Dialectics; Legal Pluralism; Criminal Justice System.

4.	Description	Abstract	Introduction: This study examines the dialectical relationship between the National Criminal Code and the living law through the contemporary criminal law philosophy approach. The existence of the Criminal Code as a formal legal product of the state is often in tension with the customary law system and the values that live in pluralistic Indonesian society.Purposes of the Research: This research aims to analyze the patterns of interaction, contradictions, and potential harmonization between the two legal systems.Methods of the Research: Using juridical-philosophical research methods and legal hermeneutic approaches, this study explores the ontological, epistemological, and axiological dimensions of the dialectic.Results Main Findings of the Research: The results of the study show that despite paradigmatic tensions, the two legal systems can run in a complementary manner through an integrated legal pluralism recognition mechanism. This research offers a new conceptual framework in understanding the nature of criminal law that is responsive to social change but still upholds legal certainty. The findings of the research have implications for the urgency of reformulating the Criminal Code that accommodates the living law while maintaining the fundamental principles of modern criminal law, especially legality, proportionality, and protection of human rights. This dialectical approach is an important foundation for the development of a contextual, fair, and sustainable Indonesian criminal law system.

5.	Publisher	Organizing agency, location	Postgraduate Program in Law, Pattimura University

6.	Contributor	Sponsor(s)

7.	Date	(YYYY-MM-DD)	2025-07-31

8.	Type	Status & genre	Peer-reviewed Article

8.	Type	Type

9.	Format	File format	PDF

10.	Identifier	Uniform Resource Identifier	https://fhukum.unpatti.ac.id/jurnal/pamali/article/view/3037

10.	Identifier	Digital Object Identifier	10.47268/pamali.v5i2.3037

11.	Source	Title; vol., no. (year)	PAMALI: Pattimura Magister Law Review; Vol 5, No 2 (2025): JULY

12.	Language	English=en	en

13.	Relation	Supp. Files

14.	Coverage	Geo-spatial location, chronological period, research sample (gender, age, etc.)

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