Praxis

From Geography

Praxis is a term used in Structuration Theory. It refers to 'the entirety of individual and collective human activities that maintain and transform social life, that is the manner in which all aspects of social reality are constituted. Praxis encompasses conduct and interaction in face-to-face situations, as well as complicated and extensive types of social collectivities and relations between people in remote places' (Lippuner & Werlen, 2009, p. 39).

Central to structuration theory is the concept of the duality of structure. Structures are formed by human agency and at the same time they form agency. This means structures are both the medium and the outcome of social praxis. There is an emphasis on the everyday practices of people that reproduces the social reality in space and time and vice versa (Lippuner & Werlen, 2009, p. 40-41). According to Pred places and regions exists because of this social praxis (Werlen 2009, p. 54).

According to Giddens, social practice is not a series of separate activities but a continuous flow of activities. This means there are several analytical categories in social praxis (reasons, motives, intentions etc.) but these categories cannot be examined separately, after all they are related to each other and used in a specific context (Lippuner & Werlen, 2009, p. 41). This also means intentionality is not finished and closed but open to change.

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References

Lippuner, R. & Werlen, B. (2009). Structuration Theory. In: International Encyclopedia for Human Geography. Elsevier Werlen, B. (2009). Structurationist Geography. In: International Encyclopedia for Human Geography. Elsevier

Created by Judith Nijenhuis (S3009270)

Edited by HuubVanDerZwaluw 15:56, 19 October 2012 (CEST)