Robert Schmidt: From Studies of the Performative Towards a Sociology of Social Practices. Notes on Changing Perspectives

Based on empirical and ethnographic studies of bodily performances in sports and knowledge work my paper suggests to enhance the concept of the performative and to cut across its textual and linguistic limitations. It is pointed out how by focussing on the non-linguistic domains of the social, the cultural analysis of the performative is redirected to a sociology of practices. Corporeality, materiality and the status and roles of the mental in social practices are the core issues of praxeology. My paper spotlights and discusses praxeology’s claims to master this issues empirically and conceptually. I conclude with considering methodological implications of this approach and sketch out further research perspectives.