How to Govern Conduct

Abstract

In previous work we have distinguished between rule-governed decision-making and unconstrained practical, moral, and empirical decision-making. A rule is a general, determinate directive that dictates the outcome of all cases that fall within its terms. Rules achieve settlement and facilitate coordination, at the cost of some outcomes that may not serve the principles underlying the rule. Here we consider the nature and function of standards of decision. Standards describe the scope of their own application in determinate terms and outline objectives or values a later decision-maker should pursue. The effect is a guided delegation of decision-making power to future decision-makers. We provide a variety of examples.