Abstract

Secession is one of the major issues in contemporary politics. Regarding its analysis, three main approaches have been developed: the conflict-oriented approach, the right-oriented approach and the dynamic-oriented approach. In this paper, my main interest is with the second approach that is the right of the group that decides to secede to do so. I am analyzing the question here from a logical point of view, from the angle of arguments for secession. An argument is fomulated from G. H. von Wright#x2019;s philosophy of action. The argument, constructed from three ingredients - namely a first-person practical inference, a minimal concept of change and a theory of anti-determinism - shows that secession is justified because man is free, which includes the freedom to leave the political union. The paper ends with some recommendations on how secession could be prevented.