Björn Kraus

Björn Kraus (born 1969 ) is a German epistemologists and representatives of a science of social work.

Life

Kraus studied Social Work (Master of Soz.Päd. FH) and Education Management (MA). He earned his doctorate at the University of Heidelberg, Dr. of Philosophy (Dr. phil. ) And is " systemic therapist and supervisor ( SG) ". Since 2005 he is professor of science of social work at the Protestant University of Freiburg. Since 2009, he acts as Member of the Board of the German Society for Social Work.

Work

Epistemological Constructivism

Björn Kraus represents an epistemological constructivism. He starts with a basic double bond structure of human development. His main focus is on the relationship between social, pragmatic and material conditions (reality, or life situation ) and their individual perception ( reality or life world). This perspective is evident, for instance in his systemic-constructivist reformulation of the life-world concept. Here he presents the concept of the lifeworld ( subjective reality ) the term of the life situation (reality) opposite and reflects their relationship to each other. The world of a people is its subjective construct that is not arbitrary on the one hand, on the other hand also can not be determined from outside for him. The work done by Kraus constructivist reformulation of the concepts of life-world and life situation is in addition to the social work in the education and community education use.

Constructivist theory of power

In dealing with the question of interpersonal influence, he developed a " power analytical constructivism ". Kraus is made up of an epistemological perspective deals with the theme of power. He does not ask for the valuation or distribution of power, but by what can be described with this term at all. Based on Max Weber's definition of power, he comes to the conclusion that the concept of power has to be differentiated. Central to his approach is the differentiation of the concept of power in " Instructive power" and " destructive power".

Specifically designated Instructive power the chance to determine the behavior or thinking of another. Destructive power refers to the opportunity to reduce the possibilities of another. The relevance of this distinction is particularly evident in the possibility of rejection of power aspirations. Opposite instructive power denial is possible - against destructive power is not. With this distinction, power relations can be differentiated and analyzed so that only about questions of responsibility are adequately reflected.

This perspective makes it possible (either there is power, or they are not ) to overcome the hitherto constructivist straight in ( radical ) power discourses usual " either- or position," and opens up the possibility of a " both- and position constructivist reflected. " this Kraus has so Ritscher, " an essential aspect of social existence, the theme of power, thereby demonstrating that constructivism can also be turned social theory. "