Why? is a book about the explanations we give and how we give them--a
fascinating look at the way the reasons we offer every day are
dictated by, and help constitute, social relationships. Written in an
easy-to-read style by distinguished social historian Charles Tilly,
the book explores the manner in which people claim, establish,
negotiate, repair, rework, or terminate relations with others through
the reasons they give. Tilly examines a number of different types of
reason giving. For example, he shows how an air traffic controller
would explain the near miss of two aircraft in several different ways,
depending upon the intended audience: for an acquaintance at a
cocktail party, he might shrug it off by saying "This happens all the
time," or offer a chatty, colloquial rendition of what transpired; for
a colleague at work, he would venture a longer, more technical
explanation, and for a formal report for his division head he would
provide an exhaustive, detailed account. Tilly demonstrates that
reasons fall into four different categories: Convention: "I'm sorry I
spilled my coffee; I'm such a klutz." Narratives: "My friend betrayed
me because she was jealous of my sister." Technical cause-effect
accounts: "A short circuit in the ignition system caused the engine
rotors to fail." Codes or workplace jargon: "We can't turn over the
records. We're bound by statute 369." Tilly illustrates his topic by
showing how a variety of people gave reasons for the 9/11 attacks. He
also demonstrates how those who work with one sort of reason
frequently convert it into another sort. For example, a doctor might
understand an illness using the technical language of biochemistry,
but explain it to his patient, who knows nothing of biochemistry, by
using conventions and stories. Replete with sparkling anecdotes about
everyday social experiences (including the author's own), Why? makes
the case for stories as one of the great human inventions.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781400837786
Publisert
2013
Utgiver
Vendor
Princeton University Press
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter