Towards a Theory of Social Practices

doi:10.1163/187226309X434867

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Towards a Theory of Social Practices

Journal Article•DOI•

Towards a Theory of Social Practices

A. Zhok¹•Institutions (1)

University of Milan¹

01 Jan 2009-Journal of The Philosophy of History (Brill)-Vol. 3, Iss: 2, pp 187-210

TL;DR: The notion of social practice and a family of notions akin to it play an essential role in contemporary philosophical reflection, with particular reference to the conceptualisation of historical processes as mentioned in this paper, and Turner's book A Social Theory of Practices (1994) has provided a major challenge to this family.

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Abstract: The notion of social practice and a family of notions akin to it play an essential role in contemporary philosophical reflection, with particular reference to the conceptualisation of historical processes. Stephen Turner's book A Social Theory of Practices (1994) has provided a major challenge to this family of notions, and our purpose is to outline a grounding account of the notion of social practice in the form of an answer to Turner's criticisms. We try to answer three questions: first, if it is necessary to grant a tacit dimension to transmittable habits; second, if and how a tacit dimension of "meaning" could be intersubjectively transmitted; third, what is the possible role of rationality in changing social practices. Our discussion moves from Wittgenstein's argument on rule-following; in its wake we try to examine the nature of habits as a basis for rules and discuss their temporal sedimentation, inertia and modes of intersubjective transmission. In conclusion we support the idea that social practices must rely on a tacit dimension, that their tacit dimension does not represent a hindrance to intersubjective transmission, and that the possible dogmatism of social practices is not due to their "hidden" side, but to their explicit quasi-rational side.

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Journal Article•DOI•

Residential heat comfort practices: understanding users

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Kirsten Gram-Hanssen¹•Institutions (1)

Aalborg University¹

10 Feb 2010-Building Research and Information

TL;DR: In this paper, a detailed analysis of empirical evidence from different households living in similar buildings in a suburb of Copenhagen, Denmark, shows significant variation in energy consumption due to different usage patterns of both the house and its heating system.

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Abstract: The user-centred approach to heat consumption in housing is a highly relevant, but often neglected, aspect of residential energy consumption. The practice–theory approach is presented as a development within the socio-technical approach. A detailed analysis of empirical evidence from different households living in similar buildings in a suburb of Copenhagen, Denmark, shows significant variation in energy consumption due to different usage patterns of both the house and its heating system. An analysis using practice–theory finds that technologies, embodied habits, knowledge, and meanings are the main components in the understanding of both what holds this practice together as a collectively shared practice and the different socio-material configurations of each of the individual households. Un aspect hautement pertinent, mais souvent neglige, de la consommation energetique residentielle consiste en une approche de la consommation de chauffage dans les logements axee sur l'utilisateur. L'approche, basee sur...

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424 citations

Cites background from "Towards a Theory of Social Practice..."

...The actors are carriers of the social practices and by that they also maintain them (Reckwitz, 2002a)....
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...An important discussion is the question of how technologies, things or products are incorporated into practice theory (Reckwitz, 2002b; Schatzki et al., 2001)....
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...However, several authors using Schatzki’s work include either more or less elements or name the elements in different ways (e.g. Warde, 2005; Shove and Pantzar, 2005; Reckwitz, 2002a, 2002b)....
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...Reckwitz (2002a) includes knowledge and language/ discourse, but he emphasizes that language/discourse loses its omnipotence as compared with its status in much cultural theory....
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...Regardless of some significant differences between these two theorists, it may be argued that their understanding of practices and routines do resemble each other (Warde, 2005; Reckwitz, 2002a)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Getting the measure of ecosystem services: a social–ecological approach

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Belinda Reyers¹, Belinda Reyers², Reinette Biggs³, Reinette Biggs¹, Graeme S. Cumming⁴, Thomas Elmqvist⁵, Adam P. Hejnowicz⁶, Stephen Polasky⁷ - Show less +4 more•Institutions (7)

Stockholm Resilience Centre¹, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research², Stellenbosch University³, University of Cape Town⁴, Stockholm University⁵, University of York⁶, University of Minnesota⁷

01 Jun 2013-Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors outline an SES-based approach for measuring ecosystem services, and explore its value for setting policy targets, developing indicators, and establishing monitoring and assessment programs.

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Abstract: Despite growing interest and investment in ecosystem services across global science and policy arenas, it remains unclear how ecosystem services – and particularly changes in those services – should be measured. The social and ecological factors, and their interactions, that create and alter ecosystem services are inherently complex. Measuring and managing ecosystem services requires a sophisticated systems-based approach that accounts for how these services are generated by interconnected social–ecological systems (SES), how different services interact with each other, and how changes in the total bundle of services influence human well-being (HWB). Furthermore, there is a need to understand how changes in HWB feedback and affect the generation of ecosystem services. Here, we outline an SES-based approach for measuring ecosystem services and explore its value for setting policy targets, developing indicators, and establishing monitoring and assessment programs.

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383 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

Understanding change and continuity in residential energy consumption

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Kirsten Gram-Hanssen

25 Mar 2011-Journal of Consumer Culture

TL;DR: In this article, practice theory has emerged within consumer studies as a promising approach that shifts focus from the individual consumer towards the collective aspects of consumption, and from spectaculescale consumption.

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Abstract: Practice theory has recently emerged within consumer studies as a promising approach that shifts focus from the individual consumer towards the collective aspects of consumption, and from spectacul...

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381 citations

Cites background from "Towards a Theory of Social Practice..."

...Warde and Shove-Pantzar are obviously inspired by Schatzki; however they rename and reduce some of the elements, and with reference to Reckwitz (2002a), they add further material items, things, products or items of consumption....
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...Reckwitz has a slightly different approach in his article; rather than describing different elements holding practices together, he focuses on core socio-theoretical elements and how they are conceptualiszd in practice theory compared with other socio-cultural theories (Reckwitz, 2002a)....
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...It is of special interest here that in another article Reckwitz explicitly discusses how technologies can be conceptualized theoretically within practice theory (Reckwitz, 2002b)....
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...The emphasis on bringing practice theory into consumer studies mainly draws on practice theory as formulated by Schatzki (1996) and developed and discussed by Reckwitz (2002a)....
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Forests, discourses, institutions. A discursive-institutional analysis of global forest governance

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Bas Arts, I.M. Buizer

01 Jan 2013

328 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

Forests, discourses, institutions; A discursive-institutional analysis of global forest governance

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Bas Arts¹, Marleen Buizer¹•Institutions (1)

Wageningen University and Research Centre¹

01 Oct 2009-Forest Policy and Economics

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that new ideas and meanings concerning sustainability, biodiversity and governance have been institutionalized in this field over time, implying policy change and innovation, and emphasize the role of ideas, concepts and narratives in institutional dynamics.

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309 citations