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Passage: Deconstructionism in legal theory challenges the notion that laws are stable, objective texts with a single, discoverable meaning. Instead, deconstructionists argue that legal language is inherently unstable, riddled with internal contradictions and gaps. A statute that appears clear on its face often relies on hidden hierarchies or unstated assumptions that can be inverted to produce a completely different outcome. The act of judging is not the 'discovery' of the law's intent, but an exercise in power disguised as interpretation. By exposing the 'aporia'—the moments of undecidability—within the law, deconstructionists aim to reveal how legal 'truth' is a social construct that serves dominant interests. The goal is not to destroy the law, but to open it up to a more radical justice by acknowledging the subjective and political nature of every judicial decision. A critic of deconstructionism would most likely argue that if we accept the idea that legal texts have no stable meaning, then:

1. The legal system would grow more just, since judges would be forced to openly disclose their underlying political biases.
2. Hidden hierarchies embedded within the law are actually necessary to preserve social order and protect the rights of minorities.
3. The rule of law would collapse into arbitrary judicial whim, undermining the stability and predictability required for society.
4. Internal contradictions within a given statute are simply evidence of the law's complexity rather than proof of its instability.

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