Part 5, Chapter 13 Pragmatisms, Section 2 Summary

In the series of "Common Law" lectures, Holmes put forth the theory that judges use their experience to rule on cases, and then find precedents to explain their decisions. These experiences were based on the normal beliefs of society at the time and therefore, they would change as society changed. This is how Holmes believed the system worked.

The Dean of the Harvard Law School went to the lectures and decided to push to get Holmes an appointment at the law school. He and many of the faculty of the law school fought with the administration and raised the money for Holmes. The administration offered a position to Holmes, and he accepted. However, his time at Harvard was short lived. During his first semester teaching at Harvard, he was offered a seat on the Massachusetts Supreme Court...