The Philosophy of Social Practices: A Collective Acceptance View

by Raimo Tuomela

Overview

This philosophical and conceptual study shows how social practices (customs and traditions) are "building blocks of society." Raimo Tuomela systematically reveals how social institutions are constructed from these "building blocks." His analysis is based on the novel concept of shared "we-attitudes," which represent a weak form of collective intentionality, and he makes instructive connections to major topics and figures in philosophy and the social sciences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521039239
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/16/2007
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.94(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.63(d)
Lexile:	1570L (what's this?)

About the Author

Raimo Tuomela is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Helsinki. His publications include The Importance of Us: A Philosophical Study of Basic Social Notions (1995), and Cooperation: A Philosophical Study (2000).

Table of Contents

List of figures; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. Collective intentionality and the construction of the social world; 2. Collective intentionality; 3. Conceptual activity, rule following and social practices; 4. An account of social practices; 5. A collective acceptance account of collective-social notions; 6. Social institutions; 7. Social practices in a dynamic context: a mathematical analysis; Epilogue; Notes; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'… makes a significant contribution … detailed, logical and comprehensive.' Philosophical Writings

'The Philosophy of Social Practices makes a significant contribution to the field of collective intentionality and social action by providing an analysis of social practices and institutions which is detailed, logical and comprehensive.' Philosophical Writings

'Raimo Tuomela's book gives an extremely detailed, systematic and clarifying analysis of the central building blocks of the social world. The book really does seem to fill a void … Tuomela fills his book with illuminating details, examples and novel distinctions.' Nordic Journal of Philosophy

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