The Path of the Law
The Path of the Law is the address Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., then a justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, delivered at the dedication of a new hall at Boston University School of Law in January 1897, printed the same year in the Harvard Law Review. In a few thousand words he proposes to look at the law as a "bad man" would, caring only for what the courts will actually do, and so to separate legal rules from moral judgments; he attacks the idea that law can be deduced like geometry, and urges lawyers to study history and economics to understand what the rules are for. It is among the most cited essays in American legal thought. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the opening pages free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Path of the Law
The Path of the Law by Oliver Wendell Holmes can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Path of the Law online?
Yes. The Path of the Law opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Path of the Law free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Path of the Law is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Path of the Law in the public domain?
Yes. The Path of the Law by Oliver Wendell Holmes is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Path of the Law?
About 40 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Path of the Law?
The Path of the Law by Oliver Wendell Holmes is filed under "History" in the Vinteuil library.
