Normative Notions of Authorship and Participation in the iSociety

Abstract

This paper addresses the role that conceptions of authorship play in governing participation in society. Following a brief review of the literature, the philosophical method of conceptual analysis is combined with historical examples to argue that conceptions of authorship have at least three universal features. First, 'authorship' demarcates certain activities and practices. Secondly, conceptions of authorship contain a normative element which is used to identify which activities and practices are constitutive. Finally, once identified those activities and practices become eligible for social, legal, and economic benefits that enable participation in the i-society.