--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fundamental basis by which the…" description: "\"“The fundamental basis by which the court’s decision might be made is, in itself, imperfect and subject to contradictions. There is very little conside..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/ashim-shanker-13588_a-priori_the-fundamental-basis-by-which-the-court_112164.jpg" --- # The fundamental basis by which the court’s decision might… ![“The fundamental basis by which the court’s decision might be made is, in itself, imperfect and subject to contradictions. There is very little consideration given to a priori knowledge regarding the circumstances being presented and as a result, arguments must be made empirically, under the…” quote by Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/ashim-shanker-13588_a-priori_the-fundamental-basis-by-which-the-court_112164.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/ashim-shanker-13588_a-priori_the-fundamental-basis-by-which-the-court_112164.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec6/ashim-shanker-13588_a-priori_the-fundamental-basis-by-which-the-court_112164.jpg) > ““The fundamental basis by which the court’s decision might be made is, in itself, imperfect and subject to contradictions. There is very little consideration given to a priori knowledge regarding the circumstances being presented and as a result, arguments must be made empirically, under the assumption that assumptions themselves are, in fact, likely to give way to specious reasoning...Decisions must be made meticulously and according to specific, yet immeasurable criteria that can only be further manipulated by any cunning lawyer with the ability to make emotional pleas based on a requisite amount of inconsequential evidence to affect a decision beneficial to his clients. And so, in this respect, the law is capable of proving nothing except that its absurd attention to detail is really a kind of a façade meant to cover up the fact that a truly logical and just way to deal with such matters has not yet been devised. And the absence of adequate definition to its principles has given way to a kind of apathy among the men employed by the courts, who want nothing more now than to make a living for themselves and their families and not work themselves into too much of a frenzy about how little can be changed through their own initiative. Thus things aren’t likely to.”” [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Legal decisions are hampered by inherent imperfections, reliance on empirical argument, and manipulation through emotional appeals, leading to a façade of rigor without true justice. **In simple terms:** Law appears precise but is often flawed and manipulable. Key Takeaway Legal systems can mask uncertainty with procedural detail. Themes law justice uncertainty manipulation proceduralism Mood critical skeptical Type critical analytical When to use this quote - courtroom litigation - policy drafting - regulatory compliance - corporate law Key Concepts epistemic limits ethical persuasion institutional inertia Practical Applications - Introduce transparent reasoning standards - Train judges to recognize rhetorical bias Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can reduce emotional manipulation in courts? - How can law balance precision with flexibility? A Different Perspective Some reforms already address these issues; the critique may overlook incremental improvements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) [Attention to detail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention-to-detail/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Facade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facade/) [Justice system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-system/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Legal system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal-system/) [Natural law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-law/) [Pathos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pathos/) [Reasoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasoning/) [Rule of law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-of-law/) [Self preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-preservation/) ## Related quotes > [“Looking out the rain-fogged window at the gray November day, Mary felt almost grateful for the snug warmth of her well-heated chamber. 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