{"id":5382,"date":"2021-10-23T10:59:35","date_gmt":"2021-10-23T08:59:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/icar.cnrs.fr\/dicoplantin\/?p=5382"},"modified":"2025-05-12T08:04:01","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T06:04:01","slug":"reciprocity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/icar.cnrs.fr\/dicoplantin\/reciprocity\/","title":{"rendered":"Reciprocity"},"content":{"rendered":"

RECIPROCITY<\/span><\/h1>\n

1. Reciprocal (Symmetric) Verbs<\/span><\/h2>\n

Consider a statement linking two noun phrases: N 1 \u2014 Verb \u2014 N2<\/strong>.
\nBy permuting the actants, we get the statement: N 2 \u2014 Verb \u2014N1<\/strong>.
\n\u2014 In general, these statements have different meanings:<\/p>\n

Big fish eat small fish: A eats B<\/strong>.<\/span>
\nSmall fish eat big fish: B eats A<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014 In some cases, the two statements have the same meaning<\/strong>. The verbs that allow the permutation of the complements are called symmetrical<\/em> (or reciprocal<\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n

The weight of the apples is equal to that of the cherries
\n<\/em>is equivalent to:
\nThe weight of the cherries is equal to that of the apples.<\/em><\/p>\n

<being equal to>, <being the friend of>, <being the brother or sister of>, <meeting><\/em><\/span> are reciprocal.<\/p>\n

Peter is\u00a0 Paul’s friend = Paul is Peter’s friend = Peter and Paul are friends<\/em>. Peter and Paul are equal for the friendship relationship.<\/p>\n

If a<\/strong> has met<\/span> b, then<\/strong> b<\/strong> has a<\/strong>, in other words, a<\/strong> and b<\/strong> have met<\/em>. The following argument would make sense in a detective novel; it can only be rejected by accusing Peter of lying:<\/p>\n

If Peter confessed to meeting Paul at the bar,then,\u00a0 we must assume that Paul met Peter. Paul cannot deny the obvious.<\/p>\n

The distance<\/em><\/span> from one point to another point is a symmetrical relationship, but the time<\/em><\/span> it takes to travel that distance is not necessarily so.<\/p>\n

Logical and Linguistic Aspects of Reciprocity<\/strong>
\nIn mathematics, the relation of reciprocity is strict: if a function F<\/strong> is reciprocal, then F(ab)<\/strong> is strictly equivalent to F(ba). <\/strong>This is not the case in ordinary language:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peter has met Paul<\/em>:
\nThe situation develops from Peter’s point of view<\/strong>.
\nIn other words, we follow Peter and meet Paul.<\/p>\n

Paul met Peter<\/em>:
\nThe situation develops from Paul’s <\/strong>point of view<\/strong>.
\nWe follow Paul and meet Peter.<\/p>\n

The difference between a mathematical function < F(a, b)<\/strong>> and an ordinary verb <to be friend with<\/strong>> is that ordinary language presents events from a particular perspective.<\/strong> This is a trace of subjectivity<\/a> in language.<\/p>\n

The relation of reciprocity (symmetry) is considered as \u201cquasi-logical\u201d by Perelman & Olbrechts-Tyteca. Quine would probably say that there is a a stylistic difference (see connectives<\/a>) between the logical construction and the grammatical construction. Both lead to their elimination.<\/p>\n

1. Principle of Reciprocity<\/span><\/h2>\n

In some human groups, reciprocity is a moral and social imperative.\u00a0 Reciprocity is a kind of egalitarian principle, defined on the basis of the set of actions that bind two persons.
\nThe strict principle of reciprocity says that that if A<\/strong> does something positive<\/strong> to\/for B<\/strong>, then B<\/strong> must reciprocate to A<\/strong>, by doing the same thing to\/for A<\/strong>.
\nThis is the principle of returning favors. The individuals A<\/strong> and B<\/strong> are equal<\/strong> in this relationship.
\nIf A<\/strong> has given B<\/strong> a gift, such as an invitation to dinner, then B<\/strong> concludes that he must do the same, i.e. give A<\/strong> some gift or invitation.<\/p>\n

The principle of reciprocity acts as a constraint: \u00ab\u00a0If you invite me to dinner, I must invite you to dinner.<\/em>
\nIf A<\/strong> has given B<\/strong> a decisive advantage, then B<\/strong> must do something equivalent for A<\/strong> when the situation arises: \u201ca favor is never lost<\/em>.<\/p>\n

As a form of natural morality<\/strong>, the imperative of reciprocity is a correlative of\u00a0 the principle:<\/p>\n

Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Gospel of Luke, 6:31)<\/span>
\nDo not<\/em> do to others what you do not<\/em> want done\u00a0 to you.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the latter form, \u201cdo not do to others what you do not want them to do to you,\u201d<\/em> this second principle opposes to the talion principle, \u00ab\u00a0an eye for an eye\u00a0\u00bb. This is a special case of the \u201cyou too!<\/em><\/a>\u201d argument.<\/p>\n

The principle of reciprocity is a resource that can be used to regulate social interactions<\/strong>, for example in arguments such as \u00ab\u00a0I a<\/em>m polite to you, so be polite to me<\/em>.
\n<\/span>The speaker defines himself and his\u00a0 partner as members of the same category, who must be treated in the same way, see rule of Justice<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The principle of reciprocity can only be strictly applied only to acts for which A<\/strong> and B<\/strong> can be treated as equals. It makes no sense if there is a fundamental inequality between A<\/strong> and B<\/strong>: if A<\/strong> gives B<\/strong> alms, or if A<\/strong> fines B<\/strong>, there is no question of B<\/strong> mechanically applying the strict reciprocity. But in a romance novel, B<\/strong> may save A<\/strong>‘s life, and in a detective novel B<\/strong> may take revenge on the person who condemned him.<\/p>\n

In modern times, we might consider nuclear deterrence<\/strong>, based on the certainty of mutual destruction, as a concrete application of this principle.<\/p>\n

Reciprocity as a legal principle allows different states to assert their equal international dignity, and possibly to justify a retaliation:<\/p>\n

if country A<\/strong> requires a visa for the nationals of country B<\/strong>, it is right for country B<\/strong> to require a visa for nationals of country A<\/strong> as well.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Reciprocity can be used for retaliation and revenge: \u00ab\u00a0An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. If A<\/strong> has wronged B <\/strong>in some way, then B<\/strong> can legitimately do the same wrong to A<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If your jilted lover has disfigured you with vitriol, the court grants you the right to treat him in the same way.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

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RECIPROCITY 1. Reciprocal (Symmetric) Verbs Consider a statement linking two noun phrases: N 1 \u2014 Verb \u2014 N2. By permuting the actants, we get the statement: N 2 \u2014 Verb \u2014N1. \u2014 In general, these statements have different meanings: Big fish eat small fish: A eats B. Small fish eat big fish: B eats A. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-non-classe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/icar.cnrs.fr\/dicoplantin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/icar.cnrs.fr\/dicoplantin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/icar.cnrs.fr\/dicoplantin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icar.cnrs.fr\/dicoplantin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icar.cnrs.fr\/dicoplantin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5382"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/icar.cnrs.fr\/dicoplantin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5382\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14254,"href":"https:\/\/icar.cnrs.fr\/dicoplantin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5382\/revisions\/14254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/icar.cnrs.fr\/dicoplantin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icar.cnrs.fr\/dicoplantin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icar.cnrs.fr\/dicoplantin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}