What is Law?

16 Pages Posted: 28 Aug 2020

See all articles by Bruce Levinson

Bruce Levinson

Center for Regulatory Effectiveness

Date Written: July 27, 2020

Abstract

You broke the law. There should be a law. Loi du 29 juillet 1881 sur la liberté de la presse. It’s God’s law. It’s the law of our ancestors. It’s a law of nature. It’s the second law of thermodynamics. It’s the tax code. What is law? What common concept is expressed in the many uses of the word “law” and its synonyms? What single concept of law is encompassed in its encoding in scientific, judicial, and customary forms? Since understandings of law can be culture specific, what concept of law is common across social systems? This paper will develop a definition of law — and a way to measure a law or legal system’s binding power — that is applicable across forms and civilizations. In developing the definition, the paper will demonstrate that a QBist understanding of quantum mechanics can serve as a Rosetta Stone which allows us to reconcile Western and non-Western scientific systems.

Keywords: Anthropology, Economics, Law, Metaphysics, Philosophy, QBism, Quantum Mechanics

JEL Classification: A12, C11, I14, I24, K42, P4, Q01, Q5

Suggested Citation

Levinson, Bruce, What is Law? (July 27, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3661795 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3661795

Bruce Levinson (Contact Author)

Center for Regulatory Effectiveness ( email )

1601 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009
United States

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