Social Practices A Wittgensteinian Approach to Human Activity and the Social [Hardcover]

Addresses the basic structures of social life drawing on the work of Wittgenstein.This book addresses key topics in social theory such as the basic structures of social life, the character of human activity, and the nature of individuality. Drawing on the work of Wittgenstein, the author develops an account of social existence that argues that social practices are the fundamental phenomenon in social life. This approach offers new insight into the social formation of individuals, surpassing and critiquing the existing practice theories of Bourdieu, Giddens, Lyotard, and Oakeshott.This book addresses key topics in social theory such as the basic structures of social life, the character of human activity, and the nature of individuality. Drawing on the work of Wittgenstein, the author develops an account of social existence that argues that social practices are the fundamental phenomenon in social life. This approach offers new insight into the social formation of individuals, surpassing and critiquing the existing practice theories of Bourdieu, Giddens, Lyotard, and Oakeshott.This book addresses key topics in social theory such as the basic structures of social life, the character of human activity, and the nature of individuality. Drawing on the work of Wittgenstein, the author develops an account of social existence that argues that social practices are the fundamental phenomenon in social life. This approach offers new insight into the social formation of individuals, surpassing and critiquing the existing practice theories of Bourdieu, Giddens, Lyotard, and Oakeshott.Abbreviations; Preface and acknowledgements; 1. The emergence of practice; 2. Mind/action/body; 3. The social constitution of mind/action and body; 4. Social practices; 5. Dimensions of practice theory; 6. Practices and sociality; Postscript: individual and totality; Notes; References; Index. Schatzki has produced a valuable and challenging book....All in all an excellent book. N. Gal[