El momento ethnográfico

Giddens, Garfinkel y los problemas de la etnosociología

Abstract

The problematical relationship that should be established between theories and models of
scientific sociology and those that are shared by social actors, and which Giddens names «mutual
knowledge», has traditionally concerned the social sciences. This article examines the issues that
have arisen out of this conflict of portrayals of society through the comparison made between two
theoretical viewpoints that are heavily influenced by the hermeneutic turnabout of social theory.
Taking as a point of departure the appraisal made by Anthony Giddens regarding the truths and
errors of ethnomethodology, some of the ideas that the theory of structuration poses in respect of the
role played by the knowledge that individuals share about social reality shall be stated. Lastly, after
explaining certain criticisms of Giddens’ programme, the use of the term «ethnosociology» is
proposed as a manner of giving form to this dual hermeneutics.