This work provides a diverse philosophical exploration of the role of practice and practices in human activity. It contains essays and critiques of this philosophical and sociological attempt to move beyond current problematic ways of thinking in the humanities and social sciences and explore several conceptions of practice: as underlying subjects and objects, as conditions of knowledge and as a building-block of social phenomena. The essays discuss philosophers such as Wittgenstein, Heidegger and Derrida, whose contributions have been influential in practice theory. It also shows how...

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 shows that a concept of activity timespace drawn from the work of Martin Heidegger provides new insights into the nature of activity, society, and history. Although the book is a work of theory, it has significant implications for the determination and course, not just of activity, but of sociohistorical change as well. Drawing on empirical examples, the book argues (1) that timespace is a key component of the overall space and time of social life, (2) that interwoven timespaces form an essential infrastructure of important social phenomena such as power, coordinated actions, social...

The Nexus of Practices: connections, constellations, practitioners brings leading theorists of practice together to provide a fresh set of theoretical impulses for the surge of practice-focused studies currently sweeping across the social disciplines. The book addresses key issues facing practice theory, expands practice theory s conceptual repertoire, and explores new empirical terrain. With each intellectual move, it generates further opportunities for social research.

More specifically, the book s chapters offer new approaches to analysing connections within the nexus of...

The Nexus of Practices: connections, constellations, practitioners brings leading theorists of practice together to provide a fresh set of theoretical impulses for the surge of practice-focused studies currently sweeping across the social disciplines. The book addresses key issues facing practice theory, expands practice theory s conceptual repertoire, and explores new empirical terrain. With each intellectual move, it generates further opportunities for social research.

More specifically, the book s chapters offer new approaches to analysing connections within the nexus of...