Resumen

CIANCIARDO, Juan. Principios y reglas: una aproximación desde los criterios de distinción. Bol. Mex. Der. Comp. [online]. 2003, vol.36, n.108, pp.891-906. ISSN 2448-4873.

The author examines the criteria to distinguish between principles and rules, taking as a point of departure the theory of Robert Alexy. The author explains the critique developed by Aulis Aarnio and Luis Prieto Sanchís to said theory. The former denies the existence of a distinction between principles and rules; while the latter argues that, even if the distinction is admitted, it is irrelevant, because it adds little in support of the critique to legal positivism. Finally, the author contradicts the two critical arguments mentioned, and develops a proposal that distinguishes between "strong" principles and other kind of principles, stressing the reasonableness of the former.

Palabras llave : principles; rules; legal theory; legal positivism.