In law, as in every other branch of knowledge, the truths given by induction tend to form the premises for new deductions. The lawyers and the judges of successive generations do not repeat for themselves the process of verification any more than most of us repeat the demonstrations of the truths of astronomy or physics.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes that learned truths in law and other fields are accepted without re-verification through induction and deduction.
Benjamin N. Cardozo highlights the nature of legal knowledge, asserting that the truths established through inductive reasoning serve as foundational premises for making new deductions. Just as most individuals do not continually verify established scientific truths, lawyers and judges rely on the precedents and established truths of the law, which enables the legal system to function efficiently across generations without redundant verification.
In practice
During a law seminar, a speaker might quote this to describe the reliance on established legal principles.
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