Héctor Vera

The Social Construction of Reality, A Four-Headed, Two-Fingered Book: An Interview with Thomas Luckmann:

First published in 1966, The Social Construction of Reality, by Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann, marked the beginning of a significant transformation in social theory and the sociology of knowledge. In this interview Luckmann relates the working dynamic of writing the book four-handed and details his further collaborations with Berger. He then describes their expectations on the possible impact of the book and his view on how it was actually received. The interview concludes with Luckmann noting some misunderstandings of so-called ‘constructivism’ and clarifying the intended meaning of the term social construction.

Rebuilding a Classic: The Social Construction of Reality at 50:

This paper traces the eventful legacy of The Social Construction of Reality, by Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann, which has been widely acclaimed as a classic text in sociology, but also has been subject to glaring and persistent misinterpretations. The paper discusses the inception and significance of the title along with the principal arguments of the authors’ work. The main achievements and shortfalls of the intellectual project behind the book are considered. The paper also introduces the contents of a special issue of Cultural Sociology to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the book’s publication.

An Interview with Peter L. Berger: Chamber Music at a Rock Concert

In this interview, Peter Berger, co-author of The Social Construction of Reality, reflects on the making and reception of the book half a century after its first publication. It begins with Berger describing the plans he had with Thomas Luckmann for ultimately unwritten sections of the book and the unfulfilled project of a second book co-authored by them. He answers some questions on the intended meaning of the concept construction, on the intellectual and extra-theoretical elements that influenced the book, and on the connections between his sociology of knowledge and his later work on religion and economic development. The interview moves on to explore Berger’s current work in the development of a ‘theory of pluralism.’ Finally, Berger ponders on his long-lasting but tense relationship with the discipline of sociology.

Breaking Global Standards: The Anti-metric Crusade of American Engineers

During the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era, groups of scientists and exporters pushed for legislation that would make the decimal metric system of weights and measures the exclusive system of measurement in the United States. As is well known, these efforts to metricate America failed repeatedly. One of the key reasons why the federal government failed to secure metric adoption was the forceful opposition mounted by mechanical engineers. This group of experts participated in mass media, scientific publications, and political debates against the convenience of adopting the metric system. Their well-executed campaigns made the compulsory introduction of the metric system a highly contested political issue. This chapter follows two key individuals in this context, the mechanical engineer Frederick A. Halsey and the textile industrialist Samuel S. Dale, who founded in 1916 the American Institute of Weights and Measures, an association that for two decades led the fight against metric adoption.