Paper's abstract

Pierre & Dominique Terré Demeulenaere, Which norms, for which consequences?
A consequentialist approach to the emergence of norms can be found in the classical analysis of Prisoner’s dilemma situations. This paper focuses on the moral aspect within those norms. They are based upon the actors’ self-interest but give them at the same time the possibility to act, for moral reasons, against their immediate self-interest (or particular interest) for the sake of general interest. The paper examines the success of this type of moral vindication in normative economics. It stresses the difficulties that they nevertheless raise.


Key Words : Prisoner's dilemma, normative economy
t. 48, 2004 : p. 345-354