I firmly agree with JuliaS? above. I read Frank to be pointing out the true nature of our subjective legal system. I think "unavoidable" is the proper term to describe the intangible mechanisms that get us from dispute to resolution.

Basically, whether we choose to subject someone to the Ordeals or whether we subject them to a jury trial, there will be an element of human subjecitvity, maybe even magic!!, that we as a society must accept. In fact, I believe that a thorough reading of Frank lends the inference that a bit of magic may be necessary for a functioning legal system. After all, without omnipotent and omnicient judges and juries, how else would we find OJ not guilty?

-- AdamGold? - 05 Feb 2008