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| 20930 | The existence of law is one thing, its merits and demerits another |
| Full Idea: The existence of law is one thing; its merit and demerit another. Whether it be or be not is one enquiry; whether it be or be not conformable to an assumed standard is a different enquiry. | |||
| From: John Austin (Lectures on Jurisprudence [1858], p.214), quoted by Jens Zimmermann - Hermeneutics: a very short introduction 6 'Positivism' | |||
| A reaction: It is impossible to contest this point, but the issue is whether there is nothing more to law than its written existence. |