Schutz: even the thing perceived in everyday life is more than a simple sense
presentation. It is a thought object, a construct of a highly complicated nature In
other words, the so-called concrete facts of common-sense perception are not as
concrete as it seems. They already involve abstractions of a highly complicated
nature, and we have to take account of this situation lest we commit the fallacy of
misplaced concreteness.
Stock of knowledge may include items found within realm of common sense.
Common Sense
Do not confuse stock of knowledge with common sense.
Schutz: Even the thing perceived in everyday life is more than a simple
sense presentation. It is a thought object, a construct of a highly
complicated nature
Accomplishments
1949: At Wagner College he received his BA.
1950 and 1954: At the New School for social Research he earned his M.A. and
Ph.D. in New York City.
Understudy for Alfred Schultz
Went on to teach at many a couple of universities and
most recently taught at Boston University.
He is a past president of the Society for
Scientific Study of Religion.
Berger cont.
He wrote many books on the Sociology of Religion.
He ties many the aspects of modern society back to
religion.
Major Influences
Lutheran Theological Divinity School
Max Weber
The Social Construction of Reality
3 Processes
1) Externalization
2) Objectivation
3) Internalization
Marriage and The Construction of Reality
The process of treating outside objects as if they are something other than
human products. Humans forget their position of authority in the world.
Leads to alienation.
The process of forgetting that the products around humans were created by
themselves.
The reality of the social world does not present itself all at
once. It must be constructed and reconstructed over and over
again.
Is God Dead?
Berger says, Gods not dead and that religion is still very well alive and important
in todays society.
Only through the belief in the existence of the supernatural- that is, a reality
that transcends the reality of the natural world of everyday life- can
humans grasp the true proportions of their experience.
Insight on:
Perception
Social Structure
Human Behavior
Key Perspectives
Time Consciousness
Stock of Knowledge