Term covering a loose agglomeration of theories and views of the nature of law, inspired by critical theory, and originally by social theorists such as Marx or Weber, but then by more radical postmodern theorists from Nietzsche to Foucault and Derrida. The general stance is that since texts, including legal documents, admit of multiple readings legal decisions are not so much constrained by rational responses to texts and precedents, but manifestations of social and political forces acting upon legal agents. See also law, philosophy of.