Philosophy Colloquium - Daniel Kelly / The social dynamics of articulated norms

We develop a distinction between unarticulated and articulated norms and argue that it tracks a cluster of consequential differences. In particular, we argue that it carries implications for understanding the dynamics of norm change. Once articulated, new norms can spread rapidly via word of mouth, traveling through a population faster, further, and with higher fidelity. Expressing norms verbally also enables us to bring them into the “space of reasons” where they can be made the objects of sustained reflection and critical attention at both the individual and community level. Thus, norm articulation is a key step for those trying to steer social change through what we call norm-engineering. However, we argue that it also poses a trap. Explicitly verbalizing a norm can create the illusion that it shares features with the language used to express it, leading to an idealization on which norms are portrayed as discrete sentence-like entities that can be easily isolated, rearranged, or substituted in and out for each other. This, we argue, obscures the fact all norms entangled with an array of psychological processes and interwoven with other norms into a larger social fabric. Pull on one thread, all manner of others might warp and strain.