Interaction and Everyday Life

Phenomenological sociology and ethnomethodology have many adherents and practitioners throughout the world. The international character of interest in these two areas is exemplified by the scholars from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States who contributed to this collection. Together they exemplify the kinds of theoretical and research issues that arise in seeking to explore the social world in ways that respect what Edmund Husserl referred to as “the original right” of all data. These chapters were inspired in various ways by the work of George Psathas, professor emeritus of Boston University, a renowned phenomenological sociologist and ethnomethodologist as well as a fundamental contributor to phenomenological sociology and ethnomethodology movements both in the United States and throughout the world. The collection consists of three parts: phenomenological sociology as an intellectual movement, phenomenological considerations, and ethnomethodological explorations, all areas to which Professor Psathas has made significant contributions. A phenomenological sociology movement in the US is examined as an intellectual movement in itself and as it is influenced by a leader’s participation as both scholar and teacher. Phenomenological sociology’s efficacy and potential are discussed in terms of a broad range of theoretical and empirical issues: methodology, similarities and differences between phenomenological sociology and ethnomethodology, embodied sociality, power, trust, friendship, face-to-face interaction, and interactions between children and adults. Theoretical articles addressing fundamental features of ethnomethodology, its development, and its relation to process-relational philosophy are balanced by empirical articles founded on authors’ original ethnomethodological research—activities of direction-giving and direction-following, accounts for organizational deviance, garden lessons, doing being friends, and the crafting of musical time. Through these chapters readers can come to understand the theoretical development of phenomenological sociology and ethnomethodology, appreciate their achievements and their promise, and find inspiration to pursue their own work in these areas.

This book of essays in honor of George Psathas, beyond recognizing and celebrating the teaching and research of this worthy scholar, provides a wide-ranging set of inquiries that span the substantive domains of phenomenological sociology, ethnomethodology, and conversation analysis. Anyone interested in one or more of these domains will not want to miss the inquiries that are assembled in this tome. They are thoughtful, readable, contemporary, and, thereby, give access to current thinking in the areas that Professor Psathas brought forward for sociological appreciation and to which he mightily contributed., In this book the reader will find the widest range of expressions and positions on phenomenological sociology. Numerous valuable contributions contained in this volume are focused on exploring the interface between phenomenology and ethnomethodology; however, its main accomplishment is to illustrate that phenomenological sociology is made by people (men of flesh and blood who live, act and think in the life-world) and that, if it has a meaning and significance for us today, it’s because throughout his life and work George Psathas has started and led the way of this intellectual movement., The sheer range of material that this book covers makes it a very interesting read. There is much of interest in this collection, for students of phenomenology, students of EM, or those who seek to combine the two.

Hisashi Nasu is professor of sociology at Waseda University, Japan.Frances Chaput Waksler is professor emerita of sociology at Wheelock College, Boston, Massachusetts.