normative
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Normative has specialized meanings in several academic disciplines. Generically, it means
relating to an ideal standard or model. In practice, it has strong connotations of relating to a
typical standard or model (see also
normality).
Philosophy
In
philosophy,
normative statements affirm how things should or
ought to be, how to
value them, which things are
good or
bad, which
actions are
right or
wrong. Normative is usually contrasted with
positive (i.e. descriptive,
explanatory, or
constative) when describing types of
theories,
beliefs, or
propositions. Positive statements are
falsifiable statements that attempt to describe
reality.For example, "children should eat vegetables", "smoking is bad", and "those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither and will lose both" are normative claims. On the other hand, "vegetables contain a relatively high proportion of vitamins", "smoking causes cancer", and "a common consequence of sacrificing liberty for security is a loss of both" are positive claims. Whether or not a statement is normative is logically independent of whether it is verified, verifiable, or popularly held.It is only with
David Hume in the 18th century that philosophers began to take cognizance of the logical difference between normative and descriptive statements and thinking. There are several schools of thought regarding the status of normative statements and whether they can be
rationally discussed or defended. Among these schools are the tradition of
practical reason extending from
Aristotle through
Kant to
Habermas, which asserts that they can, and the tradition of
emotivism, which maintains that they are merely expressions of emotions and have no rational content. Normative statements and
norms, as well as their meanings, are an integral part of human life. They are fundamental for prioritizing goals and organizing and planning
thought,
belief,
emotion and
action and are the basis of much ethical and political discourse.The way in which individuals or societies define that which they consider to be appropriate - that is: to be in accordance with their (normative) standards - varies greatly between peoples and cultures. Many philosophers have searched for a source of normative values which is independent of the individual's subjective morality and consequently objective and 'true' in nature.
Social sciences and economics
See economics aspect in
normative economics. Normative economics deals with questions of what sort of economic policies
ought to (see
philosophy above) be pursued, in order to achieve desired (that is,
valued, ibid.) economic outcomes.In
social sciences the term "normative" is used to describe the effects of those structures of
culture which regulate the
function of social activity. Those structures thus act to encourage or enforce social activity and outcomes that
ought to (with respect to the norms implicit in those structures) occur, while discouraging or preventing social activity that
ought not occur. That is, they promote social activity that is socially
valued (see
philosophy above). While there are always anomalies in social activity (typically described as "
crime" or anti-social behaviour, see also
normality) the normative effects of popularly-endorsed beliefs (such as "
family values" or "
common sense") push most social activity towards a generally homogeneous set.Normative
behavior is a term used in
sociology to describe actions intended to normalize something, or make it acceptable.
Law
In
law, as an academic discipline, the term "normative" is used to describe the way something ought to be done according to a value position. As such, normative arguments can be conflicting, insofar as different values can be inconsistent with one another. For example, from one normative value position the purpose of the criminal process may be to repress crime. From another value position, the purpose of the criminal justice system could be to protect individuals from the moral harm of wrongful conviction.
Standards documents
In
standards terminology, "normative" means "considered to be a
prescriptive part of the standard". It characterises that part of the standard which describes what
ought (see
philosophy above) to be done within the application of that standard. It is implicit that application of that standard will result in a
valuable outcome (
ibid.). For example, many standards have an introduction, preface, or summary that is considered non-normative, as well as a main body that is considered normative. "Compliance" is defined as "complies with the normative sections of the standard"; an object that complies with the normative sections but not the non-normative sections of a standard is still considered to be in compliance.
See also
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Further reading
NormativNormativNormatividadeНормативноNormativ
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