“Practical knowledge and action -
a hidden aspect of human competence”
Chaired by Prof. Dr. Fritz Böhle, Augsburg
on 22.9.2006

Studies into the work patterns of specialist technical staff in the metal and chemical industries reveal that those who are regarded as experts in their field do not always adopt an entirely rational, methodical approach to solving objective and technical problems.

Hence knowledge and skills are apparently not based exclusively on specialist know-how, logical thought and a systematic line of action. Other factors are involved, too. “In practical terms, this is usually referred to as intuition, talent, flair or experience”, says Fritz Böhle, a work sociologist from Augsburg, “Such qualities are frequently regarded as inexplicable, something which cannot be described in scientific terms – although that is by no means the case.”

Very little attention has been paid thus far to the role of practical know-how and skills in any assessment of intelligent action: intelligent action is regarded as goal-oriented, which presupposes a phase of goal-formulating and decision-making prior to any action. Actual execution then becomes a matter of secondary importance. According to this view, practical action that is not driven and regulated by cognitive-rational considerations is merely affectual behavior, or routine. As the above-mentioned research illustrates, however, this model of human behavior appears to coincide with reality to only a limited degree: in areas other than occupational sciences – in IT, knowledge management and sport, for example – there is also evidence of a substantial shift in the perception and assessment of practical action.

One of the current research debates in the field of artificial intelligence centers on the extent to which intellectual performance

is based on physical-practical action, and whether one may assume the existence of autonomous “embodied intelligence”. Researchers have conducted technical experiments which, although still highly mechanistic, demonstrate that sequences of movements performed by robots no longer require exhaustive programming, but can be brought about by means of simple movement patterns and interaction with the environment. Rolf Pfeifer, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the University of Zurich, sums up the results thus far: “Intelligence is not (just) a matter of brainpower; it stems from sophisticated interplay between brain, morphology, materials and surroundings, or – expressed in more casual terms – between the body, the mind and the environment.”

Research on expertise has also shown that when specialists set about solving problems they do not simply apply their specialist knowledge and then rely on their “programming” – to use a term

associated with artificial intelligence. Through practical action, specialists also appear to acquire special knowledge in terms of the best way to proceed to ensure success. The outside observer may often find this approach rather haphazard in that it resembles dilettantish “tinkering”, and yet there is a system to this explorative approach: specialists enter into a dialogue with the objects and issues they plan to grapple with.

Practical action refers not only to the execution of direct, specific sensory-physical practices such as the manual handling of objects and so on. Its meaning is much more wide-ranging in that it includes the practical carrying out of actions such as writing a text, for example, or preparing a construction drawing.

The first round will unite researchers who are currently working on this topic in a variety of fields and who have developed, or are in the process of developing, new research concepts aimed at furthering our understanding of the functioning of practical knowledge and skills. Occupational science, research into the acquisition of expertise, the media and creativity, sports science and vocational science will be represented. Participants will be aiming to clarify points of contact and common areas of interest in their individual fields, as well as discuss other potential directions of research and fields of practice.

Building on this, the second round will involve partners from an extended range of scientific disciplines and practical orientations in particular. The Discourses will be aimed at discussing the findings thus far, identifying unanswered research issues and developing a research concept in support of a (new) multidisciplinary understanding of practical knowledge and action.

 

Chairman: Prof. Dr. Fritz Böhle
University of Augsburg, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Associate Professor of the Socioeconomics of Labor
 

Fritz Böhle has been working since the mid-1980s on “deviations” in the working process from the model based on rational, instrumental action. He has conducted numerous empirical experiments in connection with this and has played a key role in developing the concept of experience-guided subjectifying work. He is currently involved in, amongst other things, Special Research Area 5366 “Reflexive Modernization” focusing on the “Relevance of Experience-Based Work in Modern Processes”.

  

Discourse participants should include:

Prof. Dr. Thomas Alkmeyer
University of Oldenburg
Institute of Sports Science / Sociology

Prof. Dr. Günter Blamberger
University of Cologne
Institute of German Language and Literature

Dr. Michael Brater
Association for Research and Development in Vocational Training and Occupations (GAB), Munich

Prof. Dr. Hans Gruber
University of Regensburg
Faculty of Philosophy II

Harald Hofer
University of Augsburg
Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences

Foundation:
Prof. Dr. Gisbert Frhr. zu Putlitz
Prof. Dr. Rainer Dietrich
Dr.-Ing. Diethard Schade
Dr. Jörg Klein