Rules in Oracles and Games

Bibliographic Data

ID2572033
AuthorsEmily Martin Ahern (corresponding author)
Year1982
Volume17
Issue2
Pages302
Publication date1982-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueMan (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0025-1496 • E-ISSN: 2397-2548
PublisherJSTOR (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/2801815
OpenAlexW2271429445
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited6

When Searle's distinction between constitutive and regulative rules is applied to oracle consultation, we can see that some of the puzzlement Evans-Pritchard felt about Zande thoughtwhich he attributed to its mystical character-was unnecessary. Instead of drawing the analogy between Zande oracle consultation and western science, I suggest we should draw an analogy between Zande oracle consultation and games, because of the similarity between the kinds of rules that operate in these practices. This analogy reveals what kind of conventional activity Zande oracle consultation is and dissipates some puzzles Evans-Pritchard created out of his own misunderstanding of the nature of rules in this institution

Mathematical economics · Computer Science · Mathematics · Philosophy and History of Science · Philosophy and Theoretical Science · Pragmatism in Philosophy and Education

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