What is an institution? And what distinguishes one type of institution from another? We answer these questions using a functionalist approach: types of institutions are identified by their function, or the coordination problems they solve; token institutions are specific solutions to these problems, or equilibria of strategic games. The functionalist approach provides some insights into the limits of reform, or the extent to which institutions – like marriage, property, or democracy – can be modified without turning them into entities of a different kind.
CITATION STYLE
Guala, F., & Hindriks, F. (2020). Institutions and Functions. In Studies in the Philosophy of Sociality (pp. 9–19). Springer Science and Business Media B.V. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32618-0_2
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