ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the meaning of "fidelity to social practice" and considers whether this notion can be shaped to cover successfully those contexts where fairness concerns evidently arise. It examines whether the notion of fidelity to social practice can capture and expose the normative character of fairness. Social theorists are increasingly inclined to speak of social practices as the basic building blocks of social life; they provide the context that makes human action intelligible and understandable. It is reasonable to anticipate that participants in social practices understand the nature of the practices in which they are involved and are committed to conducting themselves in a manner consistent with this understanding. Sometimes, but not always, distributions are made by means of competitions. But questions about the fair distribution of burdens and benefits often arise outside of competitive situations, and when they do they also give rise to fairness concerns.
