Hearing morse, music, mountains and heart beats: a sociology of sensory knowing

Abstract

We rely on our senses to make judgements and perform roles, whether these are mundane aspects of life such as road crossing, or the more specialised tasks of music-making and paediatric surgery. Taking the example of hearing, this thesis argues that it is useful to consider the senses as a form of knowledge, adopting Fredrik Barth's position that knowledges are avenues through which people actively engage with their worlds. In defining knowledge and the senses in these terms, this research is an exploratory contribution to both sensory studies and sociologies of knowledge. Based on participant observation and interviews with 92 musicians, doctors, adventurers and Morse code operators, the thesis begins by examining each epistemic community's underlying knowledge base, before exploring their learning methods and the conditions that support the development of aural acuity. It then explores the role of the senses in expert practices, illustrating their value in decision-making,particularly in critical contexts. This thesis argues that the senses are a dynamic and active form of knowledge that needs to be examined at the micro- and macro-sociological level, as well as across careers and lifespans. It illustrates how the senses are learnt, interactive, responsive and personal.