Hart-Fuller debate

The Hart-Fuller debate centers around a fundamental disagreement in legal philosophy. H.L.A. Hart, a legal positivist, argued that law is separate from morality; laws are valid if created through proper procedures, regardless of moral content. In contrast, Lon L. Fuller, a natural law theorist, contended that law must align with moral principles to be legitimate. Fuller believed that laws lacking moral foundation could become unjust and unworthy of obedience. This debate highlights the tension between legal structure and ethical considerations, questioning whether the law is purely a system of rules or must also reflect moral values to be truly effective.