Peter Burke, A Social History of Knowledge
Chapter 1 – Sociologies and Histories of
Knowledge: An Introduction
P. Jason Morrison
Assistant Professor Michael JD Sutton
Foundational Principles of Knowledge Management: IAKM
61095-004
Presentation Assignment 1
I, P. Jason Morrison, do hereby explicitly certify this is submission is my own work

Peter Burke, A Social History of Knowledge
Chapter 1 – Sociologies and Histories of
Knowledge: An Introduction
Goals of Text
A major aim is to study present 'knowledge society' by taking the
perspective of long-term trends
A major goal is 'defamiliarization' – while inside a system, it looks
like 'common sense.'

Peter Burke, A Social History of Knowledge
Chapter 1 – Sociologies and Histories of
Knowledge: An Introduction
Rise of the Sociology of Knowledge
France
Writers examined the social origins of basic categories—shared
assumptions. General conclusion: social categories are projected
on to the natural world.
United States
Veblen and others became interested in relationship between
knowledge and specific social groups and institutions.
Germany
Following/diverging from Marx, sociologists found ideas to be
socially 'situated.' Interests of a group lead to development of
ideology.

Peter Burke, A Social History of Knowledge
Chapter 1 – Sociologies and Histories of
Knowledge: An Introduction
What is a Sociology of Knowledge?
Not a history of ignorance or study of obstacles to finding truth,
but also social explanation of the truth.
Organized and systematic study of how what people believe to be
truth or knowledge is influenced by their social environment.

Peter Burke, A Social History of Knowledge
Chapter 1 – Sociologies and Histories of
Knowledge: An Introduction
First wave of sociology of knowledge vs. second wave
Shift from 'acquisition and transmission of knowledge' to
'construction,' 'production,' or 'manufacture' (postmodernism)
More 'knowledge-holders' are considered, more kinds of
knowledge taken seriously
More concerned with smaller groups – 'microsociology' – 'the
anthropology of knowledge'
Rather than social class, more attention paid to gender and
geography

Peter Burke, A Social History of Knowledge
Chapter 1 – Sociologies and Histories of
Knowledge: An Introduction
The book will use parts of all these different approaches to try to
counteract the specialization and fragmentation of the subject

Peter Burke, A Social History of Knowledge
Chapter 1 – Sociologies and Histories of
Knowledge: An Introduction
What is knowledge?
Information = raw, Knowledge = cooked
Will include things considered knowledge in the past, but not now;
Different kinds of knowledge (ars and scientia, etc.)
History of concepts is important part
Avoid assumption of intellectual progress
- On an individual level, depth pushes out breadth of knowl
- Same with 'knowledge explosions' like printing, scientific
revolution, etc.

Peter Burke, A Social History of Knowledge
Chapter 1 – Sociologies and Histories of
Knowledge: An Introduction
Plurality of knowledges
One way to distinguish is by use: Gurvitch (perceptual, social,
everyday, technical, political, scientific, philosophical
Another is by different social groups, including implicit
knowledge.
Emphasis of book will be dominant 'academic' knowledge, with
real effort made to have a wider framework – interaction of
scholars and craftsmen.