Normativity and Novelty

Abstract

In this paper I argue that the notion of aspect seeing is a substantial tool to shed
light on the question whether rule-following is something necessary individual or
social and on how this issue is connected to novelty. Bloor's (1997) insights will be
used as representative of the social primacy of rule-following and Luntley (2003)
will be taken up in order to examine an example of the individual stance. Weighing
pros and cons and taking the notion of aspect seeing into account, these insights
will lead us to the conclusion not only that the individual and the social are merely
constructs, created by us for practical purposes, but also that we tend to overlook
our most basic ties with the world, exactly because of these constructs and
conventions. If we adopt an artistic meta-view and make use of the philosopher’s
reflection, Wittgenstein's emphasis on the importance of ‘everyday life’, also in
philosophy, takes on a new meaning.