The book is original in its format compared to conventional approaches to academic studies in the law by introducing the personage of Judge Hercules early in the text to answer many of the legal theories which Dworkin wishes to discuss as to their being insufficient to meet the requirements of late 20th century jurisprudence.

Dworkin shall make a primary point of defending Law as integrity throughout the subsequent chapters of his text.

In this chapter, Dworkin begins his three-part, three-tier assessment of law with his criticism of Conventionalism.

Dworkin rejects pragmatism here as insufficient to the adjudication requirements and legislative principles that he sees as prevailing at the end of the twentieth century.

Dworkin begins to stress that contemporary jurisprudence in his view needs to hold in high esteem the values of justice as integrity, fairness, and due process.

Political ideals are presented as operating from a base of moral concerns that influence what is legislated as law.