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I strongly disagree that social norms serve only or even mainly to support the status quo. Norms of equality drove anti-slavery campaigners. The French Revoluti
by dash2 4y ago
I strongly disagree that social norms serve only or even mainly to support the status quo. Norms of equality drove anti-slavery campaigners. The French Revolution was deeply influenced by norms about natural rights. Communism was a profoundly idealistic movement. Today, many people call for deep social change by appealing to norms.
- serverholic 4y agoYou seem to be confusing norms and moral values. Using one of your examples, the norm would have been slavery and the moral value would have been equality. This is actually a great example of what I’m talking about. Norms usually enforce the status quo, but values drive us to break norms and change the status quo.
- dash2 4y agoNo, I am referring to social norms, the way I define them in the piece (which is quite standard).
- serverholic 4y agoSocial norms are accepted standards of behavior in groups of people. "Equality" is not a norm, it's a value. A norm can lead to equality, but it is not itself a norm. However, they both play a role in preserving the status quo. A certain set of norms and values will lead to a certain type of society. If you want a different society you have to change the norms and values.