Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici
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| Chief Justice of Malta | |
| In office 1990–1995 |
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| Prime Minister | Eddie Fenech Adami |
| Preceded by | Hugh W. Harding |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Said Pullicino |
| Judge of the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Malta |
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| In office 1992–1998 |
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| Preceded by | John Cremona |
| Succeeded by | Giovanni Bonello |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 July 1930 Cospicua |
| Died | 21 February 2019 (aged 88) |
| Nationality |  Malta |
| Alma mater | University of Malta |
| Occupation | Academic, jurist |
Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici (born July 17, 1930 – died February 21, 2019) was an important Maltese judge and thinker. He served as the Chief Justice of Malta from 1990 to 1995. He was especially interested in the ideas behind law, which is called the philosophy of law.
A Life in Law and Thought
Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici was born in Cospicua, Malta, on July 17, 1930. He started his studies at the University of Malta. In 1958, he earned his degree as a Doctor of Law. Before that, in 1955, he was the Malta’s chess champion!
After becoming a lawyer, he continued his studies in Rome, Italy. He then began teaching the philosophy of law at the University of Malta in 1966. He taught for thirty years until he retired in 1995. In 1988, he became a Professor of the Philosophy of Law.
Also in 1988, Mifsud Bonnici became a Judge in Malta’s highest courts. Two years later, in 1990, he was made the Chief Justice. This meant he was the head judge of the Courts of Appeal and the Constitutional Court. He held these important roles until his retirement in 1995.
While serving in Malta, he also worked as a Judge for the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. He did this from 1992 to 1998. He was also an honorary member of a special legal studies institute in London, England.
His Writings and Ideas
Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici followed a way of thinking called Aristotelian-Thomistic Scholasticism. This is a traditional school of thought that combines ideas from ancient Greek philosophy with Christian teachings. Most of his published works were about legal topics. These included basic human rights and freedoms. These writings were often very detailed and technical.
He also wrote a special book with Mark A. Sammut called Il-Ligi, il-Morali u r-Raguni (Law, Morality and Reason). It was published in 2008. This book was like a long conversation or interview between the two authors.
The book has five main parts. It talks about many different topics, from legal rules to deeper philosophical questions. Even though the style is relaxed, it discusses important ideas. These include bioethics (the ethics of biology and medicine), religion, marriage (including same-sex marriage), freedom of speech, and how justice is managed.
See also
- Philosophy in Malta
