Law is a system of rules and guidelines geared to control human behavior and keep societal order. Laws set rewards and punishments and provide a framework to ensure that the most basic needs of all members of a society are met: food, shelter, health, safety, and freedom of expression. Law also provides a framework for social change, protecting minorities against majority groups and providing justice in the case of conflict between individuals. This is why the study of law is so fascinating – it provides insights into the adjustments and justifications that are made in the course of a civilization’s history.
Law can be interpreted in many ways and is a subject of intense debate. One definition is that law is a means of social control, backed by coercion. This would include tyrannical rulers who issue orders, often backed by threats, that are followed, such as the six million Jews who were murdered under Nazi law or Saddam Hussein’s rule in Iraq.
Other definitions of law incorporate morality into the equation. John Austin, a utilitarian, used the term law as “commands, backed by threat of sanctions, from a sovereign to which people have a habit of obedience.” Natural lawyers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, on the other hand, believe that laws are based on innately moral principles, independent of sovereign will.
The precise definition of Law is a matter of ongoing discussion, but most scholars agree that the core components are a publically promulgated and equally enforced set of rules, accessible and impartial justice, and a system of checks and balances that prevents abuse of power. It is the foundation for healthy societies where opportunities and peace thrive.