hypothetical harm
[haɪ.pə'θɛt.ɪ.kəl hɑrm]
noun phrasepl: hypothetical harms
dano hipotético
1. potential injury, damage, or adverse consequence that is assumed or imagined rather than actual or proven
The court dismissed the case because the plaintiff could only demonstrate hypothetical harm, not actual injury.
O tribunal rejeitou o caso porque o autor só poderia demonstrar dano hipotético, não lesão real.
2. in legal contexts, an injury that might occur in the future or under certain conditions rather than one that has already occurred
The environmental group argued that the development posed hypothetical harm to the ecosystem.
O grupo ambiental argumentou que o desenvolvimento representava dano hipotético ao ecossistema.
3. theoretical or speculative damage used in academic, philosophical, or policy discussions
The ethicist discussed hypothetical harm in scenarios where privacy violations might occur.
O eticista discutiu dano hipotético em cenários onde violações de privacidade poderiam ocorrer.
This term is predominantly used in legal, academic, and policy discussions in both the USA and Brazil. In American jurisprudence, the concept of 'hypothetical harm' is crucial to the doctrine of 'standing,' which requires plaintiffs to show actual or imminent injury rather than merely speculative harm. Brazilian legal tradition similarly emphasizes the distinction between hypothetical and concrete harm in administrative and civil law proceedings. The term reflects a broader principle that courts should adjudicate real disputes rather than abstract or theoretical ones.
Related Idioms & Phrases
no standing to sue (when only hypothetical harm exists)
injury in fact
ripeness doctrine (challenging hypothetical future harm)
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