THE COMMON-SENSE WORLD AS SOCIAL REALITY: A Discourse on Alfred Schutz

The attempt is made to outline the conception of the common-sense world as soc reality, as developed by A. Schutz in about 30 articles written in English since 1940, & in his earlier book, DER SINNHAFTE AUFBAU DER SOZIALEN WELT. Schutz repeatedly refers to the phenomenology of Edmund Husserl, which he further develops & elaborates. Against this background are presented the notions in terms of which Schutz, describes soc reality & the existence of the actors on the scene of soc life. Among these concepts, those of `stock of knowledge at hand' - socially derived & approved - & of `biographically determined situation' - in terms of which the position of an individual actor within society is defined - hold a preeminent place. All other concepts either derive from, or are essentially related to these 2. Special stress is laid on Schutz's treatment of M. Weber's theory of `subjektiver' or 'gemeinter Sinn.' Schutz has shown that this concept is neither a peculiarity of Weber's sociol nor a special methodological device peculiar to the soc sci's, but that it rather expresses a practice which is common & familiar in soc life & in all forms of soc relationships, though it is seldom made explicit. Furthermore, Schutz has given a definitive phenomenological clarification & justification of that concept by means of which the line of demarcation between the natural & the soc sci's is defined. The suggestion is ventured that the conceptual apparatus which Schutz elaborated might contribute towards the realization of Dilthey's program, viz, laying down the philosophical foundations for the historical sci's & the sci's concerning man. AA.