What is Culture? Part Four: Conventions

Russians understand Americans’ single color “blue” as two distinct shades – light blue and dark blue.

The function of art is also clear: Artists propose new ways of doing things and perceiving the world, which if successful, become conventional.

David Lewis's now canonical idea is that conventions form in the process of trying to solve coordination problems.

Following philosopher David Lewis, conventions are (1) regular (2) well-known, and (3) socially accepted behaviors that individuals follow and expect others to follow.

Conventions start as coordination problem solutions but are quick to become social norms. And as everyone follows them to some degree, they create the behavioral patterns we associate with those groups.

David Lewis's now canonical idea is that conventions form in the process of trying to solve coordination problems.