Law is a notoriously slippery and elusive concept that has defiled Comprehensive and all-embracing and universally acceptable definition. Lawyers, philosophers, and even other social scientists have spent sleepless nights trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the definition of law. This attempt to find an acceptable definition is motivated by the obvious fact that law is the engine that propels a smooth running if their entire mechanism for the administration of the modern society. Thus, for effective application of legal principles and rules in resolving contemporary issues, a definition is no fun a vital sort because lawyers have various and conflicting ideas of how to resolve these problems, there are individual Philosophical convictions and ideological inclinations tend to determine the definition of what law exactly means. This is more visible in the application of law by the court, we are informed with the justification that a conservative minded judge judges with religious leanings and aristocratic background will obviously differ in outlook and therefore in decision from one of radical agnostic middle class make up and this will affect not only the decisions on points if law but also on questions of fact.
Besides, law regulates social relations that are dynamic in nature. Its definition cannot afford to be static. It is this factor that makes the definition of law appear to be an attempt to fetch waster with a basket, it cannot hold. According to Okunniga: “nobody including the lawyer have been able to give or will give a generally acceptable definition of law.” Because of the controversy surrounding the definition of law, it is being proposed that we limit ourselves to a few definitions presented by learned authors. And inspire if what we have said, after examining the works of learned authors, we will still make attempt what might be thought a working definition. It is being proposed by Cicero who presented a definition of law which one might agree or disagree with but which lawyers of all generations and all countries with elegance and pride have always referred to this great philosopher. Law is the highest reason embedded in nature which commands what should be done and forbids the contrary. “lex ratio sumnan insita innatura quae jubet ea, tacienda sunt prohibitique contraria.” This definition is religiously adhered to by supporters of the natural law school of jurisprudence. In particular and quotes by others as a mark of recognition and excellence.
On his part, sir Edward Coke as the perfection of “reason.” while Charles Dickens in Oliver twist refer to law as “a ass, a idiot”.
In Plato’s republic, through the character Tracy Marcus, one gets the idea that behind any law that must be obeyed by all members of a given community stands force, power and might. This definition no doubt contains a vital ingredient which lends validity to law, namely coercion.
However, Professor Tumanov sees law as a vital component of social reality. The relevance of this definition is obvious, law is seen as a regulator of social relations which in actual called law into existence. It is difficult to agree with prof Tumanov that law is a component of social reality because law does not exist in a vacuum. It is the existence of concrete social relations that call it into being. It is the expression of economic relation that exists in a given society. Law also reflects other material and immaterial form of relations in a society. Law therefore is an indispensable mechanism for guaranteeing the smooth running of production, distribution, and exchange.
“What you do about disputes is the law”
Karl N. Llewellyn (1892-1962)
“the collective term for the rules of conduct for… living in a legal order.”
Wortley
Generally, law means the following;