Rembrandt, Aristotle Contemplating the Bust of Homer (1653) Questions concerning the link between ‘text and normativity’ are as central to cultural and social sciences as they are to jurisprudence and to theology. Legal texts, religious documents, epoch-making philosophical and literary works all claim normative validity or achieve normative significance over the course of their history of impact and reception: what is the difference between normative and non-normative texts, what are the cultural and societal conditions necessary to provide a text with normative validity, what are the historical processes of canonisation and codification, through which a text will achieve normative significance? And conversely, what does it mean for norms and antecedent normative convictions, when they are put on paper, formulated in texts, communicated and conveyed?
Beyond this, the link between texts and norms has an influence on the interpretation and concrete application of texts. This results in a third level of norms, i.e. those regarding interpretation and application.
The project will illustrate how these three levels interact, how they constitute texts, and influence, and even integrate societies by authorising texts. Texts generate, reflect and stabilise norms, which in turn generate and legitimise texts.
Among other things, the framework of the project will include three internationally attended conferences on the subjects and research questions outlined:

• ‘Text and Interpretation’ (10-12 September 2009)
• ‘Canonisation and Codification’ (23-25 September 2010)
• ‘Authority – Interdisciplinary Aspects’ (2011/12)

Another element of the project will be the publication of a handbook compiling historical and contemporary knowledge on the project contents from the point of view of the disciplines involved. The aim is to provide an interdisciplinary compilation of the relevant subject matter and terminology in a series of articles and short essays. As regards content, the goal will be to define a joint vocabulary (‘text’, ‘textual history’, ‘textual culture’, ‘interpretation’, ‘reception’, ‘canonisation’, ‘rule’, ‘rule-following’ etc.) from both problem historical and systematic points of view.
In this, it will not only reflect the current state of research in the various disciplines involved but will also aim to be useful as a handbook for students.