List of Figures
Introduction
1 A "Cultural" Approach to Social Science
2 Practice Theory Today
3 Core Ontological Commitments
4 Sketch of the Argument
5 Of Philosophy and Social Science
Chapter 1: What Are Practices?
1 Actions under a Description
2 Looping Effects
3 Historical Constitution
Chapter 2: Knowledge
1 Knowledgeable Practices
2 Conceptualising Knowledge
Chapter 3: Retroactive Redescription
1 The Validity of Retroactive Redescription
2 The Effects of Retroactive Redescription
3 Functional Concepts and Typological Classification;
4 What Is at Stake?
Chapter 4: Identification and Context
1 Identifying Practices "in All Their Specificity"
2 Relations and Relational Properties
3 Criteria of Identification
Chapter 5: Specificity and Generalisation
1 Functions
2 Implications for Generalisation, Explanation and Description
3 Patchwork Holism
Chapter 6: Possibility and Capacities
1 Possibility
2 Capacities
Chapter 7: Constitutive Relations and Constitutive Theory
1 Constitutive Theory
2 Constitutive Relations
3 Stability and Change
Conclusion
1 Culture and Action in the Social Sciences
2 Some Benefits of Studying Practices
Works Cited
Biography
Kevin McMillan
"What constitutes "practice theory" is often bewildering. McMillan not only does an excellent job of sorting this out but presents a distinctive original argument for a cultural approach, based on a theory of human action and the philosophy of social science, which is applicable as an approach to empirical studies." - John G. Gunnell, Distinguished Professor, Emeritus, State University of New York, Albany, USA."A welcome antidote to the confusion that surrounds the use of the concept of practice in the social sciences today, The Constitution of Social Practices offers a fresh philosophical analysis of this concept and explores its implications across a broad range of empirical fields, thereby adding new clarity and rigor to the study of practices." - Jens Bartelson, Lund University, Sweden.
