Wittgenstein and Social Practices

In this paper I examine the value of theories of social practice for cultural geography. I consider the relationship between culture and language use by drawing on the later philosophy of Wittgenstein, whose work explores the concepts of shared understanding and rule-following. Wittgenstein's approach assists in avoiding the type of misconceptions apparent in representationalist criticisms of influential theories of practice like those of Giddens and Bourdieu. A more fruitful way of dealing with practices is also suggested, which connects rules to the use of language and thereby to geographically specific cultures. Although several problems are identified in employing a Wittgensteinian analysis of practice, its applicability to human geography is considered in relation to the subjects of embodiment and place, as well as to the delineation of cultures and to issues of epistemology.