ABSTRACT
The theoretical formulations of reality, whether they be scientific or philosophical or even mythological, do not exhaust what is 'real' for the members of a society. Since this is so, the sociology of knowledge must first of all concern itself with what people 'know' as 'reality' in their everyday non- or pre-theoretical lives. In other words, common-sense 'knowledge' rather than 'ideas' must be the central focus for the sociology of knowledge. The sociology of knowledge understands human reality as socially constructed reality. Since the constitution of reality has traditionally been a central problem of philosophy, this understanding has certain philosophical implications. From a certain psychological perspective, beliefs and values are seen as the means by which an individual achieves the integration of his personality. The analogy throughout Invitation to Sociology is with the theatre: a man is more than his roles, just as an actor is more than Berger's parts.
