Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Arts

Major

Philosophy

Date of Defense

4-22-2024

Graduate Advisor

William Dunaway

Co-Advisor

Lauren Olin

Committee

Eric Wiland

Jon McGinnis

Abstract

This paper argues that social role concepts are both descriptive and normative. A "social role concept" is any concept that describes a person’s station in life from the point of view of society as a whole. Social roles are usually positions into which one is born and which are difficult if not impossible to renounce from within the conceptual system. Social roles are therefore not mere jobs or descriptions. They place certain obligations upon a person that are meant to apply absolutely. This paper first discusses the normativity of rule-governed practices and the rules involved in concept use. The paper then turns to look at social role concepts proper and argues that social role concepts both prescribe action while also at least purporting to describe some sort of underlying moral reality. This paper ends by giving an account of “objectionable” social role concepts while comparing them to objectionable thick concepts.

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