Ambiguity and Conflicting Reasons in the Implementation of Norms

Abstract

The implementation of a normative system causes disagreement, more often than not. Variations in interpretation are involved, and also differences in advice-giving and inconsistencies between the correlated choices. In spite of these difficulties and for various reasons, a decentralized pattern of implementation is often preferred, in which agents are able to elaborate interpretations and to act or organize accordingly. It is argued that this causes patterns of disagreement which do not reduce to direct disagreement and call for a discussion of the alliance of objective and subjective elements.