Methodological Legal Positivism of Eugenio Bulygin (in Memory of an Outstanding Personality)

This article is dedicated to the memory of Eugenio Bulygin (1931–2021)—a native of Kharkiv and an eminent Argentine legal philosopher, honorary professor at the University of Buenos Aires, president of the International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy (1999–2003), and one of the most influential representatives of contemporary legal positivism. Drawing on autobiographical details, memories of friends, and the author’s personal interactions with this remarkable figure, the article outlines the key stages of Eugenio Bulygin’s life and work: his Kharkiv, Austrian, Argentine, and cosmopolitan periods. The profound impact of his academic contributions and personality on the development of contemporary philosophy and legal theory in Ukraine is positively evaluated. Special attention is devoted to analyzing Eugenio Bulygin’s legal-philosophical worldview, which he unequivocally identifies as legal positivism. However, upon deeper analysis, his understanding of law incorporates distinctive features and can be defined as analytical, methodological, and humanistic legal positivism. The article elucidates the core methodological tenets of Bulygin’s legal theory, including his concepts of normativity, validity, and addressing legal gaps, among others. His talent for polemics is demonstrated through examples of his debates with Hans Kelsen and Robert Alexy.