pure theory
pure theory. The philosophy of Hans Kelsen, in which he contends that a legal system must be “pure” — that is, self-supporting and not dependent on extralegal values. • Kelsen’s theory, set out in such works as General Theory of Law and the State (1945) and The Pure Theory of Law (1934), maintains that laws are norms handed down by the state. Laws are not defined in terms of history, ethics, sociology, or other external factors. Rather, a legal system is an interconnected system of norms, in which coercive techniques are used to secure compliance. The validity of each law, or legal norm, is traced to another legal norm. Ultimately, all laws must find their validity in the society’s basic norm (grundnorm), which may be as simple as the concept that the constitution was validly enacted. See basic norm under NORM.
