Dr Jan Mihal ~ Lecturer, Law
College of Business, Law & Governance
- About
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- Teaching
- Interests
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- Research
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- General Jurisprudence
- Legal Theory
- Law and Philosophy
- Metaphysics
- Philosophy of Biology
- Asian Philosophies
- Neuroscience and Law
- Machine learning, iterative self-improvement, AI and Big Data
- Moral and Political Thought
- Virtue Ethics
- Mythological and Narrative approaches to Law
- Experience
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- 2019 to 2021 - Postdoctoral Fellow, National University of Singapore (Singapore)
- 2019 - Tutor, University of Melbourne (Carlton, Melbourne)
- 2018 - Teaching Assistant, Melbourne Law School (Carlton, Melbourne)
- 2014 to 2018 - Doctoral Candidate, Melbourne Law School (Carlton, Melbourne)
- 2017 - Teaching Associate, Monash University (Clayton, Melbourne)
- 2015 - Teaching Fellow, Melbourne Law School (Carlton, Melbourne)
- 2015 - Teaching Associate, Monash University (Clayton, Melbourne)
- 2012 to 2013 - Summer Scholar, Australian National University (Canberra)
- Research Disciplines
- Socio-Economic Objectives
Jan has a PhD from Melbourne Law School and a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (with a major in Philosophy), also from the University of Melbourne. He has spent time as a visiting scholar at ANU and has taught and undertaken research at the University of Melbourne, Monash University and the University of California, Santa Cruz. Most recently, he was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Law Faculty, National University of Singapore, affiliated with the Centre for Legal Theory. He draws inspiration and stimulation from the vibrant interdisciplinary academic environment and tropical ecosystem at JCU.
Jan’s research focuses on the intersection of jurisprudence, metaphysics and social ontology while also being informed by notions of function and teleology from the philosophy of biology. This interdisciplinary approach yields an original, functionalist account of law’s nature with deep implications for methodology in general jurisprudence and beyond. The core idea that drives his research project is that law’s nature, its essential function, is something we discover through investigating and studying the world, our societies and their histories and our ourselves – in this way we can work out the special role law plays, what keeps it around and keeps it relevant.
He has published his research in leading international journals and has presented at a wide variety of conferences and workshops around the world. His work has received a range of awards, grants, recognition and praise from peers and leading experts.
He has taught across a variety of subject areas in both law and philosophy, including topics in public and private law, metaphysics and narrative jurisprudence as it relates to discourses on human rights and emerging technologies. He enjoys inspiring his students to think more deeply about legal issues while nurturing their creativity as modern problem solvers and future leaders.
When not teaching and researching, Jan can be found acting, making music and learning ancient languages (rather slowly).
- Honours
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- Awards
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- 2017 - First Prize, Australasian Society of Asian and Comparative Philosophy Graduate Student Essay Competition
- 2015 - Australasian Society of Legal Philosophy Essay Prize
- 2011 - S.F. Pond Prize in Legal Theory
- Memberships
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- International Law and Technology Interoperability Association
- Australasian Society of Legal Philosophy
- 2021 - American Philosophical Association
- 2021 - Townsville District Law Association
- 2019 to 2021 - Centre for Legal Theory, National University of Singapore
- Publications
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These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.
- Journal Articles
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- Mihal J (2021) Responding to the over-inclusiveness objection to Hart's theory of law: a causal approach. Jurisprudence, 12 (2). pp. 175-199
- Mihal J (2017) Defending a functional kinds account of law. Australian Journal of Legal Philosophy, 42. pp. 121-144
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