Norms and Concepts in the Animal World. An Analysis of Social Play as a Normative Practice
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35305/cf2.vi22.278Keywords:
Normativity, Concepts, Social play, Non-human animalsAbstract
In philosophical tradition, normativity has been considered a distinctive feature of human life, in contrast to the purely natural existence of non-human animals. However, in recent decades, this view has been increasingly challenged. In this paper, we argue that, at least in certain contexts, animals can be regarded as normative agents. To support this claim, we examine the relationship between concept use and the capacity to act according to norms, questioning the assumption that conceptual mastery necessarily depends on language. From a Wittgensteinian perspective, we show that social play in some animal species constitutes a practice in which normative behavior is displayed. In doing so, we aim to contribute to the debate on animal normativity, broadening the theoretical framework of normative practices beyond the human species.
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