Practice (social theory)
Encyclopedia
Practice is a concept widely used in social sciences such as sociology
, anthropology
, and archaeology
, referring broadly to anything people do. It overlaps with the Weberian
notion of social action and the Marxist concept of praxis. Notably, Pierre Bourdieu
emphasized the role of practice in his theoretical framework
.
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, and archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
, referring broadly to anything people do. It overlaps with the Weberian
Max Weber
Karl Emil Maximilian "Max" Weber was a German sociologist and political economist who profoundly influenced social theory, social research, and the discipline of sociology itself...
notion of social action and the Marxist concept of praxis. Notably, Pierre Bourdieu
Pierre Bourdieu
Pierre Bourdieu was a French sociologist, anthropologist, and philosopher.Starting from the role of economic capital for social positioning, Bourdieu pioneered investigative frameworks and terminologies such as cultural, social, and symbolic capital, and the concepts of habitus, field or location,...
emphasized the role of practice in his theoretical framework
.
See also
- InteractionismInteractionismIn sociology, interactionism is a theoretical perspective that derives social processes from human interaction. It is the study of individuals and how they act within society. Interactionist theory has grown in the latter half of the twentieth century and has become one of the dominant...
- Phronetic social sciencePhronetic social sciencePhronetic social science is an approach to the study of social – including political and economic – phenomena based on a contemporary interpretation of the Aristotelian concept phronesis, variously translated as practical judgment, common sense, or prudence. Phronesis is the intellectual virtue...
- Praxis (process)
- Social action
- Social practiceSocial PracticeThe Social Practice Model sees literacy as a key dimension of community regeneration and a part of the wider lifelong learning agenda. Such an approach recognises that:*literacy and numeracy are complex capabilities rather than a simple set of basic skills...