ABSTRACT
This chapter now turns to mental concepts beyond knowledge. Rather than parapsychology or UFOs as sometimes intimated by the rainbow press, beyond knowledge refers to interpretive cognitive constructs. Beyond knowledge' is concerned with aspects of interpretation, such as assessing, estimating as relevant, or viewing in the light of personal feelings and socially mediated judgements. Hayek highlighted the role of procedural knowledge formation, use of knowledge and the importance of personal interpretation in explaining the functioning of markets. The notion of social construction of reality' was therefore already in the air. Simon is another early author who discussed the relationship between knowledge and uncertainty and human rationality and decision making. The German sociologist Ulrich Oevermann proposes the idea of patterns of interpretation' as a concept which reaches beyond the notion of knowledge. Economic decisions, strategies, activities, and the resulting institutions do not simply arise from knowledge or external economic preconditions.
