The Emergence of NormsEdna Ullmann-Margalit provides an original account of the emergence of norms. Her main thesis is that certain types of norms are possible solutions to problems posed by certain types of social interaction situations. The problems are such that they inhere in the structure (in the game-theoretical sense of structure) of the situations concerned. Three types of paradigmatic situations are dealt with. They are referred to as Prisoners' Dilemma-type situations; co-ordination situations; and inequality (or partiality) situations. Each of them, it is claimed, poses a basic difficulty, to some or all of the individuals involved in them. Three types of norms, respectively, are offered as solutions to these situational problems. It is shown how, and in what sense, the adoption of these norms of social behaviour can indeed resolve the specified problems. |
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Page 10
... Inequality situations the state of inequality is not com- pletely stable ; owing to its structure it is potentially threatened . The problem here is for the participant ( s ) favoured by the inequality to determine how to fortify the ...
... Inequality situations the state of inequality is not com- pletely stable ; owing to its structure it is potentially threatened . The problem here is for the participant ( s ) favoured by the inequality to determine how to fortify the ...
Page 134
... inequality . Alternative ways of describing it : one party to the situation is privileged and the other under- privileged ; one party ' gets more out of ' the situation than does the other ; the benefits of the situation are unequally ...
... inequality . Alternative ways of describing it : one party to the situation is privileged and the other under- privileged ; one party ' gets more out of ' the situation than does the other ; the benefits of the situation are unequally ...
Page 135
... inequality has historically been the first question asked by social thinkers , and , further- more , that ' by ... inequality in terms of norms and sanctions , has direct bearing on the present study and therefore deserves our attention ...
... inequality has historically been the first question asked by social thinkers , and , further- more , that ' by ... inequality in terms of norms and sanctions , has direct bearing on the present study and therefore deserves our attention ...
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Common terms and phrases
absolute position achieved affairs agents alternative argument autarkic behaviour cell cerned choice of action choose co-operation co-operative goal co-ordination equilibrium co-ordination norms coercion Column-Chooser Column-Chooser's concept concerned condition confess conflict conformity considered contexts covenant Dahrendorf desert deviance deviate dilemma discussion disfavourably placed party dominant envy example existence expectations explained explicit agreement fact favoured party function game theory game-theoretical equilibrium Gauthier hence Hobbes Hobbes's Hobbesian individual interaction situation interests involved means Methodological Individualism moral mortarmen mutual non-A norms of partiality oligopolists one's ordination outcome participants pay-off PD norms PD problem PD-structured situations possible preference present Prisoners question quo of inequality Ralf Dahrendorf rational reconstruction reason recurrent co-ordination problem regard relative position represented Row-Chooser sanctions Schelling sense social choice social norms society solution solving stability stag-hunt status quo strategic move structure supposed threat tion types of norms unilateral violation W. G. Runciman zero-sum