No matter what one is studying, whether it is astrophysics, accounting, or sociology, one will always run into law. Law is the system of codes of behavior in a society, coupled with the institutions by which those codes are enforced. In order to understand how the codes and institutions came to be, one must understand why law is necessary.

Society requires law because it maintains order. Without law, and the ability to effectively enforce it, a society will quickly slip into anarchy or despotism. Fair and objective laws are especially important in egalitarian societies wherein people are largely free to interact in nearly any way in which they wish.