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Why did Hans Kelsen call his account a pure theory of law?

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The Greek philosopher Plato — Philosophy of law Plato, marble portrait bust copied from an original of the 4th century bce; in the Capitoline Museums, Rome.

Hans Kelsen described his account as a "pure theory" of law because he sought to establish a framework that is logically self-supporting and independent of extralegal values.1

By "pure," Kelsen meant that the theory should explain the normative force of law—its claim to rightfully command obedience—without relying on external factors such as sociology, ethics, or empirical observations regarding human beliefs, attitudes, or behavior.12

Influenced by Neo-Kantian philosophy, Kelsen utilized a "transcendental" strategy to avoid an infinite regress when tracing the authority of legal rules. He argued that to explain the validity of a legal system, one must presuppose a "basic norm" (Grundnorm), such as the assumption that "the constitution is to be obeyed". While Kelsen acknowledged that sociology and ethics are relevant to the creation and content of laws, he maintained that a theory of law itself must remain distinct from these disciplines to remain "pure".21