Reality, Consciousness, and Knowledge Much of this is from: –From Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann The Social Construction of Reality (1966)

Eight Characteristics of Consciousness AKA “Natural Attitude” or “Reality”

1. Intentionality Intentional – –Reality imposed by our attentiveness – –We project our understanding on to the world Perception of coiled rope – not snake?

2. Patterned and Independent Appears to be patterned and independent of our apprehensions Assumption that we are not the source, but it is “out there”

3. Language Largely symbolic Talk provides “objectifications”

4. Situation Bound Time: the now Space: the here The here of my body and the now of my present

5. Intersubjective Intersubjective reality Knowledge of others’ natural attitude is shared Common sense with emphasis on “common”

6. Taken-for-granted Taken-for-grantedness We must suspend doubt to exist in a routine Most doubt is reflexive... i.e. acts back to verify the reality of this reality. (i.e., loud noise in the night.... etc)

7. Reality is Problematic When problems arise, our response is to bring order upon and routinize If we cannot locate experience within natural attitude, we must assume beyond –(hence, religions, insanity, etc.)

Natural Attitude (con’d)

8. Can be Multiple “Finite Provinces of Meaning” – –other realities that may or may not compete with paramount reality – –Reality of dreams – theater – – –Turns attention away from reality Can only be shared through symbols (i.e., language) example of religion Marijuana as an experience

IV. SOCIAL STOCK OF KNOWLEDGE Language allows the accumulation of biographical and historical knowledge into fields or zones of meaning – –Passed on from generation to generation – –Permit location (i.e., identity) within context of social stock of knowledge

Family Tree (Charlemagne)

IV. SOCIAL STOCK OF KNOWLEDGE (con’d) Characteristics of the Social Stock of Knowledge (will focus on 4) – – #1 - Predominated by recipe knowledge (pragmatic motive) generally taken for granted and non-problematic (except when learning)

Some Examples of Recipe Knowledge

Characteristics of the Social Stock of Knowledge (con’d) Characteristic #2 - Differentiated by degrees of familiarity – –some things very familiar (driving a car) – –others things may be quite problematic (changing a tire – AAA) –The –The unfamiliar is integrated by our knowledge of this differentiation – Go to the doctor for specialized help... Where to get neighborhood gossip? Are we becoming a world of specialists?

Characteristics of the Social Stock of Knowledge (con’d) Characteristic #3 – – –Includes knowledge of relevancy structures of others we know what others want to hear Guides us on how to act toward others – –Cop – –Waitress – –mother of child – –Grand parents – –Professors and students

Characteristics of the Social Stock of Knowledge (con’d) Characteristic #4 – – – Differentially Distributed reflects social structure inequality structure gender lines Examples – –Social Science Perspective – –Sports – –Foodies

Differentiated Vocabularies The Hip Song, Chad Mitchell Trio

Name the Perspective Finite Provinces of Meaning IdeologyTaken-for-grantedness Commonsense “knowledge” TypificationsInstitutionalization Intentionality of consciousness "Sum total of typifications and the recurrent patterns of interaction established by means of them."

Name the Sport Agricultural shot Agricultural shot Beamer Chin music Gazunder Leg bye NurdlePinch-hitter BowlerYorker

Foodie’s Cupcake Ingredients Scharffen Berger cocoa genoise Cask-aged Jamaican rum Balinese vanilla bean mousse Cowgirl Creamery creme fraiche Twin Girl Farms Meyer lemon wild-crafted Mendocino huckleberries shavings of hand-cracked Mission District coconut an indiscernable hint of Fleur d' Sel 64 percent E. Guittard bittersweet (made with Criollo and Trinitario cacao beans) Strauss buttercream Artisinal rice krispies and cacao nibs turbinado sugar El Ray chocolate spikes. El Ray chocolate spikes.