Discursive Consciousness

From Geography

Discursive Consciousness

Discursive consciousness is awareness which has a discursive form. Actors are able to give a verbal expression to the conditions of their actions (Giddens, A.). Discursive consciousness is opposed to Practical consciousness whereby the actor does not put his action into words but acts on practical knowledge. This distinction is made by Anthony Giddens in his structuration theory. The third level is unconsciousness whereby no knowledge is used. Mechanisms of repression separate unconsciousness from discursive and practical counscousness. The border between discursive consciousness and practical consciousness is dynamic and not clearly definable (Lippuner and Werlen).

When we give a discursive explanation we explicitly put our actions into words. This can be done in different levels. For example, when I explain why I ride my bike I can say that I am going to work or I can say that I am against automobile pollution.

References

• Giddens, A. (1984). The Constitution of Society. University of California Press: Berkeley and Los Angeles.

• Kaspersen, K.B. (2000). Anthony Giddens: an introduction to a social theorist . Blackwell: Oxford

• Lippuner, R. and Werlen, B. (2009). Structuration Theory. Elsevier.

Contributors

Page created by --SusanVerbeij 08:06, 7 October 2011 (UTC)