Let us be practical in our expectations of the Criminal…
![“Let us be practical in our expectations of the Criminal Law.… [For] we have merely to imagine, by some trick of time travel, meeting our earliest hominid ancestor, Adam, a proto-man, short of stature, luxuriantly furred, newly bipedal, foraging about on the African savannah three million or so…” quote by William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/def/william-landay-7878_ancestor_let-us-be-practical-in-our-expectations_2937849.png)
““Let us be practical in our expectations of the Criminal Law.… [For] we have merely to imagine, by some trick of time travel, meeting our earliest hominid ancestor, Adam, a proto-man, short of stature, luxuriantly furred, newly bipedal, foraging about on the African savannah three million or so years ago. Now, let us agree that we may pronounce whatever laws we like for this clever little creature, still it would be unwise to pet him.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Legal theory often assumes we can apply modern moral standards to ancient humans, but this is impractical and misleading.
In simple terms: Applying current law to prehistoric humans is unrealistic.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits of legal analogies.
Themes
law
ethics
history
anthropology
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- courtroom arguments
- policy drafting
- academic debate
- teaching law
Key Concepts
Moral relativism
legal philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we account for historical context in law?
- Can we ever truly understand ancient mindsets?
A Different Perspective
Modern law may not address primitive contexts adequately.