Law is a set of rules that are made by the government to keep people safe and help them live in the best possible way. In most cases, if you break a law you could face jail time or a fine.
Legal definitions can be very different depending on the culture and language that they come from. Some examples of laws that are made in different cultures and languages include those that regulate the sale of alcohol, smoking, and gambling.
The word law is derived from the Latin legales which means “lawful”. It is also related to rule, regulation, precept, statute, ordinance, canon and legislation.
In some contexts, the term “law” can also mean an indisputable fact about how things work. In the sciences, for example, a law can be a scientific statement about how certain things happen.
For many people, law is a concept that has to be studied in order to understand how the world works. In other contexts, such as a legal career, it can be used to describe a system of rules that is designed to protect people’s rights and secure their future.
Some of the most common law definitions are given below:
‘Pure theory’ of law
A pure theory of law is a theory that states that the law does not seek to define what must occur but rather defines rules that individuals have to abide by. It is also called the ‘normative science’ of law.
‘Historically law’ of law is a theory that states that law is a product of social control and serves the purposes of society. It can be said to be ‘coercive’ because it aims to control human behavior.
Another famous law definition is that of Roscoe Pound who defined law as ‘predominantly a tool of social engineering’. This is because it controls human behaviour by being a form of social institution and therefore it has to conform to the society’s values and culture.
Customized and based on popular consciousness
‘Historical law’ of law is a theory that says that law is a product of customs which are a result of the society’s common consciousness. It is important to note that customs can be very different in different countries and cultures, which is why it is so vital to study the culture of a country in order to be able to understand its laws.
The definition of law is a complex issue and can be very hard to define. In most cases, it is impossible to give a definitive answer to this question as there are too many factors that determine whether or not something is law.
A good starting point for someone to find out the meaning of law is by reading the dictionary. The Oxford English dictionary has over 34,000 concise definitions that can help you find out what a particular term means. It also includes in-depth specialist encyclopedia entries on major topics and issues, including criminal law, tax and social security law, human rights law, family and employment law, and many more.