The pragmatic law: Law as a relationship through experience

Abstract

In today's society there exists a definite distinction between what law is and what it is perceived to be. For many people law is simply a set of rules that are made by a government and upheld by a court. However, when people discuss law in this manner they are only scratching the surface. Certainly, the sets of rules are important. They provide the structure and the foundation to a system that might otherwise exist in chaos. But as Karl Llewellyn points out, rules are only the shell of law; mere words that mean nothing without substance, or meaning (Llewellyn 12). What's more, is that rules are not absolute as so many people think. Rules can change over time; words can be erased or added, therefore, changing the rule. So, then, what else can be said about law if more exists than just rules? Fortunately,a s I have discovered, a lot can be said about law when a person looks at law beyond the structure that man has created for it. In fact, when looking into the matter, a reader can find a whole slew of answers. So what is the crux of law, if it is not just rules and regulations? Law is about relationships and how law deals with those relationships.