La méthode casuistique : l’apport des cas critiques pour la construction des catégories juridiques

Abstract . The purpose of this contribution is to show the relevance of a true casuistic method that is not reduced to singular argumentation by case (traditional casuistry) or argumentation by rules (based on general statements). Indeed, in each of these hypotheses, the argumentation always involves cases, formulated in a more or less general way. The idea is that all the argumentation is underpinned by a rationalization process aimed at grouping similar cases into the same categories. This construction effort itself is based on the search for critical cases that make it possible to decisively resolve qualification and categorization problems.