Rules, Incentivization and the Ontology of Human Society

Guzmán, Gabriel and Frasser, Cristian (2017): Rules, Incentivization and the Ontology of Human Society. Published in: Philosophy of the Social Sciences , Vol. 47, No. 6 (2017): pp. 440-462.

Abstract

Contemporary discussion about the ontology of society identifies two groups of perspectives. One of them, associated with Searle, includes rules in the inventory of elements that constitute social reality. The other one, associated with Smit, Buekens, and du Plessis, claims that rules can be reduced to more fundamental units. Despite the fact that both perspectives seem equally efficient in describing institutional phenomena, we identify both flaws in the viewpoint that dismisses rules and reasons to prefer the alternative position.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Ontology, money, rules, institutions, incentives
• Subjects: B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches > B3 - History of Economic Thought: Individuals > B31 - Individuals; B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches > B4 - Economic Methodology > B41 - Economic Methodology

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