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Playing the Rule-Following Game

Tanney, Julia (2000) Playing the Rule-Following Game. Philosophy, 75 (292). pp. 203-224. ISSN 0031-8191. E-ISSN 1469-817X. (doi:10.1017/s0031819100000255) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:11271)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0031819100000255

Abstract

This paper argues that there is something deeply wrong with the attempt to give rule-following explanations of broadly rational activities. It thus supports the view that rational norms are part of the ‘bedrock’ and it challenges the widespread strategy of attempting to explain an individual's rational or linguistic abilities by attributing to her knowledge of a theory of some kind. The theorist who would attempt to attribute knowledge of norms to an individual in order to explain her ability to act rationally is presented with a dilemma: either she is committed to a (vicious) explanatory regress or she destroys the normative nature of these rational practices or activities, thus making it pointless to attribute knowledge of the norms to an individual who participates in these practices. The appeal to tacit or implicit knowledge does not help in avoiding the basic dilemma.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1017/s0031819100000255
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Arts and Humanities > School of Culture and Languages
Depositing User: Julia Tanney
Date Deposited: 30 Sep 2008 10:34 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Mar 2023 11:30 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/11271 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Tanney, Julia.

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