Abstract
One of the distinctive features of some norms is thought to be their externalised character. To say that a norm is externalised is to say that it is experienced as imposed on us from the outside and exacting a demand on all, regardless of their group (Stanford in Behav Brain Sci 14:1–13, 2018a). Stanford (Behav Brain Sci 14:1–13, 2018a) argues that externalisation evolved to facilitate correlated interaction among cooperators. However, he failed to specify the means by which externalisation achieves correlated interaction. In this article, I argue that externalisation secures correlated interaction via commitment. I also offer an account of the emergence of externalised norms that further draws attention to the role of commitments in securing correlated interaction over our evolutionary history.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 22 |
| Journal | Biology and Philosophy |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 14 Aug 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2025 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© The Author(s) 2025.
Funding
This paper is part of a project that has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 101018523).
Keywords
- Commitment
- Cooperation
- Evolution
- Externalisation
- Moral
- Norms