6. Methodological Principles of Constructivism

This chapter delves into the methodological principles of constructivism, particularly in the context of financial ontology. It examines how concepts like present value and the time value of money are socially constructed and how these constructions influence normative political analysis. The text explores the principle of disunity, which emphasizes a piecemeal approach to normative political analysis, and the principle of teleology, which justifies normative claims by showing they are constitutive or instrumental to certain ends. The principle of doctrinal bracketing is also discussed, highlighting the importance of bracketing speculative metaphysical or epistemological claims when explaining the normative authority of political institutions. Finally, the chapter introduces the principle of principled viability, which ensures that substantive political principles are viable and can be recognized as having a command on people's allegiance. The text concludes by discussing how these principles work together to illuminate why seemingly authoritative principles within reach of our abilities may nonetheless appear defective.