Uncertainty: Individual Problems and Public Solutions

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Patrik Aspers (Chair of Sociology, Chair of Sociology, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland)

Uncertainty

Individual Problems and Public Solutions

Patrik Aspers (Chair of Sociology, Chair of Sociology, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland)

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English

Oxford University Press Inc
10 December 2024

Social theory; Behavioural economics

This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International licence. It is free to read on the Oxford Academic platform and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations.

In Uncertainty, Patrik Aspers provides detailed analysis of publicly available means of uncertainty reduction. Drawing on phenomenology, social constructionism, and the sociology of knowledge, Aspers considers the meaningful differences between uncertainty and risk, the different ways people cope and have coped with uncertainty through history, the importance of knowledge and science to reducing uncertainty, and the trade-offs involved in reducing forms of uncertainty while leaving open opportunities for others.

People may have access to unique and private knowledge that reduces their uncertainty when making decisions. Publicly available knowledge is central for building a society that enables communication based on shared ideas and understanding, instead of falling into bubbles, echo chambers, and private truths. Examples include institutions, laws, standards, evaluation, competition, and ranking. The book addresses how these reduce uncertainty and how these ways are created.

Examining what people can and in fact do to reduce uncertainty, Aspers addresses the existential dimension of uncertainty, the collective efforts and socially produced outcomes that lead to reduced uncertainty, and the social order that results.

By: Patrik Aspers (Chair of Sociology Chair of Sociology University of St. Gallen Switzerland)
Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 226mm, Width: 155mm, Spine: 20mm
Weight: 476g
ISBN: 9780197752753
ISBN 10: 0197752756
Pages: 232
Publication Date: 10 December 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Preface Acknowledgements Chapter 1: How Much Can We Know? Part I Principles of States of the World Chapter 2: Informal Institutions Chapter 3: Formal Institutions Chapter 4: Evaluation Part II: Forms Producing States of the World Chapter 5: Convaluation Chapter 6: Deciding for Others Chapter 7: Contest Chapter 8: Making and Reducing Uncertainty Appendix I. A Typology of Convaluations Notes References

Patrik Aspers is Chair of Sociology at University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. His research focuses on theory development. Aspers has studied the economy, especially the fashion industry. He has published several books, including Markets in Fashion: A Phenomenological Approach, Orderly Fashion: A Sociology of Markets, Markets, and Re-Imagining Economic Sociology, co-edited with Nigel Dodd.