Understanding religious hinges: a communitarian perspective

The aim of this paper is twofold. On the interpretative side, I argue that hinge-communitarianism—the idea that hinge propositions are norms governing the mechanisms of social inclusion/exclusion within communities—helps us move beyond the relativist/anti-relativist debate among Wittgensteinian interpreters and offers a coherent understanding of some of Wittgenstein’s conflicting remarks in On Certainty. On the theoretical side, I contend that the exclusionary power of certain religious hinges depends on their appearing false to outsiders. Finally, drawing on Robin Dunbar’s research, I argue that religious hinges play a decisive—and, at times, much-needed—role in shielding communities.