Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 7, 2024

 

Norms: Mediation between Interpreting and Changing the World

(Abstract)

 

Xu Mengqiu

 

Practice is not only governed by laws, but also regulated by norms. However, the relationship between norms and practice has been overlooked in discussions of practice and practical materialism, representing a significant oversight that needs addressing. Throughout the long course of evolution, humans have developed various technical and social norms through exploration and trial and error, evolving from simple to complex. These norms serve as bridges and mediators by which humans transition from understanding and interpreting the natural and social world to transforming them. The distinction between blind, trial-and-error practices and conscious, proactive practices hinges on whether appropriate technical and social norms guide the transformation of nature and society. There are three fundamental ways by which humans move from interpreting the world to changing it: imagining, by using procedural norms like witchcraft or religion; nature-transforming, by employing technical norms; and society-changing, by utilizing social norms.