'David Bloor's recent book joins the debtaes initiated by Kripke, and formulates and extremely well argumented and most radical standpoint taken till now on the so-called collectivist side of the controversy.'Bloor's book is an undoubtedly significant contribution to the ongoing debate.'The reader will certainly enjoy reading this book, since it is exceptionally well written, the arguments, most of the time , are poweerfull, the examples and the historical analogies are especially intriguning. It can be used equally well for introductory purposes an as a point of departure in academic debates.''Bloor's book is impressive for the originality of its argument, which consciously goes beyond Wittgenstein at several points; the tenacity with which it defends its sociological perspective; and its creative use of ideas from sociology, moral philosophy, and the philosophy of science. The text deserves praise for the richness of its content.' - The Jerusalem Philosophical Quarterly

• 1 INTRODUCTION 2 MEANING FINITISM 3 RULES AS INSTITUTIONS 4 CONSCIENTIOUSNESS 5 RULE SCEPTICISM 6 THE ANALOGY WITH VON MISES 7 INDIVIDUALISM 8 ISOLATION AND INNOVATION 9 RULES AND THE STATE OF NATURE 10 CONCLUSION

'David Bloor's recent book joins the debtaes initiated by Kripke, and formulates and extremely well argumented and most radical standpoint taken till now on the so-called collectivist side of the controversy.'Bloor's book is an undoubtedly significant contribution to the ongoing debate.'The reader will certainly enjoy reading this book, since it is exceptionally well written, the arguments, most of the time , are poweerfull, the examples and the historical analogies are especially intriguning. It can be used equally well for introductory purposes an as a point of departure in academic debates.''Bloor's book is impressive for the originality of its argument, which consciously goes beyond Wittgenstein at several points; the tenacity with which it defends its sociological perspective; and its creative use of ideas from sociology, moral philosophy, and the philosophy of science. The text deserves praise for the richness of its content.' - The Jerusalem Philosophical Quarterly

• 1 INTRODUCTION 2 MEANING FINITISM 3 RULES AS INSTITUTIONS 4 CONSCIENTIOUSNESS 5 RULE SCEPTICISM 6 THE ANALOGY WITH VON MISES 7 INDIVIDUALISM 8 ISOLATION AND INNOVATION 9 RULES AND THE STATE OF NATURE 10 CONCLUSION

'David Bloor's recent book joins the debtaes initiated by Kripke, and formulates and extremely well argumented and most radical standpoint taken till now on the so-called collectivist side of the controversy.'Bloor's book is an undoubtedly significant contribution to the ongoing debate.'The reader will certainly enjoy reading this book, since it is exceptionally well written, the arguments, most of the time , are poweerfull, the examples and the historical analogies are especially intriguning. It can be used equally well for introductory purposes an as a point of departure in academic debates.''Bloor's book is impressive for the originality of its argument, which consciously goes beyond Wittgenstein at several points; the tenacity with which it defends its sociological perspective; and its creative use of ideas from sociology, moral philosophy, and the philosophy of science. The text deserves praise for the richness of its content.' - The Jerusalem Philosophical Quarterly

• 1 INTRODUCTION 2 MEANING FINITISM 3 RULES AS INSTITUTIONS 4 CONSCIENTIOUSNESS 5 RULE SCEPTICISM 6 THE ANALOGY WITH VON MISES 7 INDIVIDUALISM 8 ISOLATION AND INNOVATION 9 RULES AND THE STATE OF NATURE 10 CONCLUSION