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Abstract:
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"The hermeneutical exercise to follow Vincent Ostrom's profound and pluralistic thoughts presents certain complexity. By digging on the building of his concepts - harmonized in a cadent manner, expressed with compound sentences, and overwhelmed by reason, perhaps the foundation is, at least, partially visible. This foundation, at the same time, establishes the constitutional option built in the art and science of citizenship, which is supported on the corner stone of Vincent's greatest idea and ritornello: 'Common Knowledge, shared communities of understanding'. Culture is an artifact created by the artisans that set-up the rules that allow individuals to coexist. These rules are based on such virtues as truthfulness and justice, which are the means for conflict resolution and allow for agreements to be reached. The latter is also due to a self-governing process that facilitates for citizens to live together. In language, this set of laws is translated to terms that reflect an agreement that, in many instances, goes beyond the own laws. It appears that the path that has to be followed starts from the general order of reality, manifested to the community as justice and righteousness, and the platform for particular laws. Nevertheless, these laws, in every day life and in many instances, are replaced by agreements, which become more and more important in a world that is smaller everyday. Where are the principles to understand, trough human reason, the community order of living together? This is the question."
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