Abstract: The central task of jurisprudence is explaining the ontology of law or, as it is
commonly said, its nature. The aim of this paper is to outline a methodology for
carrying out inquiries into the nature of law. I argue that enquiries of this kind
ought to begin with a pre-reflective understanding of law as an entity grounded
in a social practice, that they should attempt to provide reductive necessary and
sufficient conditions for the existence of law, and that success in this enterprise
depends on conceptual analysis although it also requires a theory construction
aiming at achieving a reflective equilibrium.