[vrganj]

By that incredibly circular definition, laws don't exist. All it takes is ignoring them and then they disappear!

That's obviously not how things work. If you don't obey the law, you are a criminal. That's the whole point of laws.

[hackinthebochs]

A law defines the nature of collective action in response to certain violations. Words on paper themselves are impotent. If there is no potential for enforcement, i.e. there is no counterfactual state of collective action, there is no law.

[terminalshort]

That's exactly correct. Laws are not a physical entity and therefore their existence is predicated entirely on collective agreement.

[vrganj]

So if you and I agree laws don't matter, we can go rob a bank together and it's all good?

[terminalshort]

If you and I, the president, congress, and the judiciary agree, then yes, and that's kind of the situation regarding the laws around starting a war.

[vrganj]

Why only these local institutions? What makes those special?

[terminalshort]

They have the power to enforce laws

[vrganj]

So do the mall cop and the ICC. Why does this arbitrary level in-between matter?