Quotes from The Reason of Rules

By James Buchanan & Geoffrey Brennan (1985)

• The commonality of [a] norm, at least over a large number of persons, is a necessary feature of any operationally useful theory of choice or action that moves beyond the strict individualistic models#
  NormsMethodology
• Considerations of justice argue not so much for a wholesale reconstruction and reformation of rules as for a proper understanding of which rules actually prevail and for a reconciliation of conflicts, inconsistencies, and ambiguities among those prevailing rules. Justice is seen to demand a harmonization of the rules and possibly an extension of the domain of rule-governed behavior. Justice is not, however, seen to provide an independent norm on the basis of which ab initio design of ideal rules might be structured.#
  Justice
• In the absence of effective enforcement procedures, adherence to rules rather than departure from them requires that individuals forswear expected utility maximization.#