On Credentials
Credentials play an important role in all modern societies, but the analysis of their nature and function has thus far been neglected by social philosophers. We present a view according to which the defining function of credentials is to certify the identity and the institutional status (including...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Vienna
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Social Ontology |
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| Online Access: | https://journalofsocialontology.org/index.php/jso/article/view/6748 |
| _version_ | 1827940240393764864 |
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| author | Giuseppe Lorini |
| author_facet | Giuseppe Lorini |
| author_sort | Giuseppe Lorini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Credentials play an important role in all modern societies, but the analysis of their nature and function has thus far been neglected by social philosophers. We present a view according to which the defining function of credentials is to certify the identity and the institutional status (including certain rights) of individuals. More importantly, credentials enable rights-holders to exercise their rights, so that for a particular right to be exercisable the right-holder should possess, carry and sometimes show to an authority a document of a specific kind. Driving licenses, identity cards, passports, boarding passes, library passes, credit cards, ATM cards, health insurance cards are all examples of credentials in this sense. Credentials have in every case a bearer, and the bearer should be able to carry them easily on his or her person. Credentials should also be inspectable – not least because credentials can be forged. The authors analyze several historical and contemporary examples of credentials, focusing on the credentials carried by the pilgrims of the Way of Saint James.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:06:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d61294cf91e946a8b5ecc3c1fcee359f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2196-9663 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:06:17Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | University of Vienna |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Social Ontology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d61294cf91e946a8b5ecc3c1fcee359f2023-05-28T07:32:11ZengUniversity of ViennaJournal of Social Ontology2196-96632022-03-0161On CredentialsGiuseppe Lorini0University of Cagliari Credentials play an important role in all modern societies, but the analysis of their nature and function has thus far been neglected by social philosophers. We present a view according to which the defining function of credentials is to certify the identity and the institutional status (including certain rights) of individuals. More importantly, credentials enable rights-holders to exercise their rights, so that for a particular right to be exercisable the right-holder should possess, carry and sometimes show to an authority a document of a specific kind. Driving licenses, identity cards, passports, boarding passes, library passes, credit cards, ATM cards, health insurance cards are all examples of credentials in this sense. Credentials have in every case a bearer, and the bearer should be able to carry them easily on his or her person. Credentials should also be inspectable – not least because credentials can be forged. The authors analyze several historical and contemporary examples of credentials, focusing on the credentials carried by the pilgrims of the Way of Saint James. https://journalofsocialontology.org/index.php/jso/article/view/6748credentialsdocument actsdeontic powersWay of Saint Jamesinstitutional objectsstatus indicators |
| spellingShingle | Giuseppe Lorini On Credentials Journal of Social Ontology credentials document acts deontic powers Way of Saint James institutional objects status indicators |
| title | On Credentials |
| title_full | On Credentials |
| title_fullStr | On Credentials |
| title_full_unstemmed | On Credentials |
| title_short | On Credentials |
| title_sort | on credentials |
| topic | credentials document acts deontic powers Way of Saint James institutional objects status indicators |
| url | https://journalofsocialontology.org/index.php/jso/article/view/6748 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT giuseppelorini oncredentials |