# Why are natural laws called "laws?" (What about other languages)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-natural-laws-called-laws-what-about-other-languages/636466>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [October 2, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-natural-laws-called-laws-what-about-other-languages/636466 "2012-10-02T12:37:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-natural-laws-called-laws-what-about-other-languages/636466/61 "2012-10-08T05:59:57Z")

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> [@bourbon-soda](#):
>
> “They always have been” smacks of “is now and ever shall be.”
> 
> If the question isn’t “what does the word ‘law’ mean,” why put forth “the only factual answer is the original word meant …?'”
> 
> Who is “you?”

His point is that, if you want to know why we call them “laws,” the best answer is that the word previously did not have the association with “rules” as it does today.

Claiming religion influenced is not a factual answer–it is speculation. The only thing we know for sure is how the word was previously used. And “factually” basically means “we know for sure that…”

And you is, well, you. The person I am posting to right now.

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