Abstract

Karl Mannheim pursuit of the idea that the sociology of knowledge is crucial to any strategy for creating a rapprochement between politics and reason connects his diverse essays in this field of study he helped originate. Following Mannheim, this essay explores the ways in which knowledge has to be constituted in order to be useful on practical. Following the insights of Karl Mannheim, it is evident that the construction of practical knowledge requires, first and foremost, an understanding of the practical realm in which such knowledge claims are supposed to be translated into action. And, constitutive for practical situations, the context of application, always is an essential "meshing" of interest, evaluation, world-views and the product of thought.