Miguel Reale

Miguel Reale was a Brazilian jurist and philosopher who lived from 1910 to 2006. He became a professor at the University of Sao Paulo in 1941 and served twice as its rector, in 1949 to 1950 and again from 1969 to 1973, also serving as Sao Paulo state secretary of justice in 1947 and founding the Brazilian Institute of Philosophy in 1949. Reale is best known for his three-dimensional theory of law, which holds that legal systems operate simultaneously on a sociological plane of social facts, an axiological plane of values, and a normative plane of legal rules, with a social fact valued producing a legal standard. He played a major role in drafting Brazil's 2002 Civil Code and took part in constitutional review commissions during Brazil's military period.