Holmes’s Theory of Law

Holmes’s Theory of Law views law as a collection of patterns of human behavior that are consistently reinforced over time. He emphasized that law is not a set of abstract principles but rather what officials, courts, and society generally do in practice. Law, according to Holmes, is the observed customs and habits that society enforces through social pressure and judicial decisions. It evolves with societal needs and practices, and its authority comes from its actual application, not from moral ideals or logical deduction. Thus, law is a social phenomenon rooted in real-world human conduct.