The State of Nature and Laws of Seinfeld: Not That There's Anything Wrong With That

Seinfeld (1989-1998) and it's co-creator's Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present), are each considered groundbreaking television. Critics regard their humor and intellectual comedy as Twain-like and creative. While both shows have been criticized for their character's indifference and apolitical attitude, the programs resonate with those in society who more subtly consider law and politics. This project argues that Seinfeld and Curb present a unique theory of justice. These two shows constitute a common and current image of what is just in society. While critics have argued that Seinfeld and Curb are not shows about nothing, I argue that these comedians offer us a legal philosophy. For those who view these characters as merely ``self-absorbed, superficial, and immature,''I posit that they represent the obscure area between what John Locke termed "the state of nature'' and what legal scholars call "legal culture.'' I propose that these sitcoms demonstrate a way of speaking about law that provides a constitutive theory of law and justice.