The Formal Bases of Law is a seminal work on legal theory written by Italian philosopher and jurist, Giorgio Del Vecchio. Originally published in 1914, the book presents an in-depth analysis of the fundamental principles and concepts that underlie the legal system. Del Vecchio argues that the law is not simply a set of rules or commands, but a complex system of norms and values that are grounded in the social and cultural context of a given society...