Christian Nimtz (Bielefeld)

Title: Why Conceptual Engineers Should Care About Implementation

Abstract: I make a general case for the methodological importance of implementation for conceptual engineering. Jennifer Nado (2023) has recently argued that since conceptual engineering as a philosophical project boils down to (re)designing representational tools, conceptual engineers can safely set aside questions of implementation. I disagree. Using the Social Norms Account of implementation as an illustrative foil, I argue for three claims. (1) A sound theoretical understanding of implementation is essential for theorists of conceptual engineering. It is crucial for evaluating claims such as Koslow's (2022), who argues from the linguistic mechanisms that govern language change to the conclusion that the prospects for "ambitious conceptual engineering projects of the sort hopes most ride on’" (ibid., 23) are bleak. (2) A sound theoretical understanding of implementation is essential for conceptual engineering practitioners. This holds true even if Nado is right that the practice…