Volume 5, No. 1, Art. 10 – January 2004

Beyond Things: A Cultural Theory of Flexible Practice

Review Essay

Karl H. Hörning (2001). Experten des Alltags. Die Wiederentdeckung des praktischen Wissens [Experts of Everyday Life. The Re-discovery of Practical Knowledge]

Till Westermayer (Germany)

Abstract: In Experts of Everyday Life [Experten des Alltags], HÖRNING binds together older works of his own in the field of sociology of technology with considerations about a theory of practical knowledge. This review essay presents this theory with the help of its important key concepts, e.g. social practice, practical knowledge and cultural repertoires of knowledge, styles of action, and the usage of technical things. The review shows how HÖRNING draws the line between his theory and comparable theories from other directions in the fields of the sociology of technology, of culture and of practice. The reviewer reflects on the reading of HÖRNING's book as a call for the use of qualitative methods in the sociology of technology as well as in sociology proper. Finally, the review asks about the relevance of HÖRNING's book for sociology in general.

Key words: sociology, everyday life, action, praxis, knowledge, culture, technology, time, qualitative research, qualitative methods

This contribution is only available as a full text in the German language. German text

Last update: 05/10/2004

Volume 5, No. 1 Table of Contents

[qualitative-research.net] [Home] [Inside FQS] [Features] [Services] [Submission]
[FAQ] [Advertising] [Search FQS] [Newsletter] [Editorial Team]

Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft