Exploring Practical Knowledge investigates professional practices from a hermeneutic perspective. The book presents, discusses and applies notions such as practical knowledge, practical wisdom, tacit knowledge, and normativity to the professional lifeworld. These contributions focus on both specific practices and more general questions concerning theories and investigations of practice.
This volume comes as the result of a cooperation of three research centres: The two Centres for Practical Knowledge in Bodø, Norway and in Södertörn, Sweden, as well as the Research Group Value-Oriented Professionalisation at the University of Applied Sciences in Utrecht, the Netherlands. It offers empirical studies of professionals as well as discussing the underlying theories, approaches and methods of exploring practical knowledge – including the limits to any articulation of these aspects of professional action.
In contrast to the objectivist paradigm that otherwise dominates professional studies, each chapter presents central perspectives and possibilities drawing from humanistic and interdisciplinary research traditions. The book explores professions in a style accessible to scholars and practitioners alike. It is interesting for those studying practices within these professions and for vocational studies in education, social work, health care, police work, journalism, etc.
Carl Cederberg, Ph.D. (2010), Södertörn University, is Associate Professor of Philosophy at that university. He has translated and published on modern philosopy in the fields of ethics, political philosophy and practical knowledge, including
Yrkesmänniskan i den kapitaliserade välfärden (Södertörn, 2019).
Kåre Fuglseth, Ph.D. (2003), NTNU Trondheim, is Professor of Studies of Practical Knowledge at Nord University, Norway. He has published on ancient religions, religious education and practical knowledge theory, including
The Philo Index (Brill, 1999) and
Johannine Sectarianism in Perspective (Brill, 2005).
Edwin van der Zande, Ph.D. (2018), Utrecht University, is Associate Professor of Value Based Professionalisation at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. He has published on the meaning of moral and spiritual leadership, including
Life Orientation for Professionals (Parthenon, 2018).
Preface
List of Figures and Tables
Notes on Contributors
1 Introduction to Practical Knowledge and Normativity Studies
Carl Cederberg, Kåre Fuglseth and Edwin van der Zande
2 Practical Knowledge as an Academic Study of Its Own? A Methodological Approach
Kåre Fuglseth
3 Studies in Practical Knowledge: Discipline, Philosophy, Plurality
Eva Schwarz and James McGuirk
4 The Professional as an Interpreting Subject: Utrecht’s Concern for the Normative Nature of Professionalism and Professional Development
Cok Bakker and Edwin van der Zande
5 Jakob Meløe’s Praxeology: An Ethnographic Approach to Research in Practical Knowledge
Catrine Torbjørnsen Halås
6 Essay as a Critical Exploring Method
Jan Selmer Methi
7 Ultimately, Reflective Professionals Ask Existential Questions
Edwin van der Zande and Cok Bakker
8 A Permissive Atmosphere: On Practical Knowledge and Artistic Forms of Understanding
Katji Lindberg
9 Narrating Alienation: Critical Accounts of the Estrangement of Professional Knowledge
Carl Cederberg
10 On the Role of the ‘Call’ in Professional Work and Practical Knowledge
James McGuirk
11 Theory of Practical Knowledge and Recognition of Prior Learning
Adrian Ratkić
12 A Lens to Reveal the Internal Decision-Making
Remco Coppoolse and Stijn Bollinger
Index
The book is relevant for everyone, scholars as well practitioners, studying practices within these professions, and for vocational studies in education, social work, health care, police work, journalism, etc.