The General Theory of Law and Its Development in China

Study of the general theory of law,as an independent branch of legal research,originated in Germany in the mid to late 19th century,and thereafter became a widely propagated and well-developed subject in countries such as the UK and the US.Scholars from the Soviet Union combined the general theory of law with Marxist philosophy and adapted it from an analytical legal theory to a social legal theory.The inheritance and development of the general theory of law in China went through three stages.Specifically,from the 1950s to the early 1960s,the jurisprudence community fully adopted the legal theories promoted by the Soviet Union;from the early 1980s to the late 1990s,the studies reflected upon past theories and sought advancement;and from the late 1990s to present,research has adopted a more open and innovative approach.In addition,the philosophy of law and other interdisciplinary subjects have gradually become dominant research paradigms.A review and compilation based on the evolution of theories of legal relations showed that the study of the general theory of law in China is closely associated to the historical rate of progress of the practice of rule of law and jurisprudence in China.The overall framework of the research is deeply influenced by the model of“theories of the Soviet+civil-law prototypes”.In addition,the research methods have evolved from investigations utilizing a single approach to processes combining various approaches.The general theory of law is far from a“relic of history,”and corresponding in-depth research is recommended for future jurisprudence study in China.

Exploring the social,ethical,legal,and responsibility dimensions of artificial intelligence for health-a new column in Intelligent Medicine

This essay is the starting point of a new column in Intelligent Medicine that invites interdisciplinary perspectives on the social,ethical,legal,and responsibility aspects of the use of artificial intelligence(AI)in medicine and health care.Papers in this column will examine the practical,conceptual,and policy dimensions of the use of AI for health-related purposes from comparative and international perspectives.We invite contributions from around the world in all application areas of AI for health,including health care,health research,drug development,health care system management,as well as public health and public health surveillance.The column aims to provide a forum for reflective and critical scholarship that contributes to the ongoing academic and policy debates about the development,use,governance,and implications of AI in medical and health care settings.To launch the column,we first provide an overview of recent approaches that have been developed to identify and address the effects and potential impacts of science and technology innovations on human societies and the environment.These include ethical,legal,and social implications/aspects(ELSI/A)research,responsible research and innovation(RRI),sustainability transitions research,and the use of international standard-setting instruments for responsible and open science issued by the United Nations Educational,Scientific,and Cultural Organization(UNESCO),the World Health Organization(WHO),and other international bodies.In Part Two of this essay,we discuss some of the central challenges that arise with regard to the integration of AI and big data analytics in medical and health care settings.This includes concerns regarding(i)the control,reliability,and trustworthiness of AI systems,(ii)privacy and surveillance,(iii)the impact of AI and automation on health care staffemployment and the nature of clinical work,(iv)the effects of AI on health inequalities,justice,and access to medical care,and(v)challenges related to regulation and governance.We end the essay with a call for papers and a set of questions that could be relevant for future studies.