Academic Paper from the year 2017 in the subject Sociology - Miscellaneous, grade: 1, University of Vienna, language: English, abstract: The outline of the events surrounding the earthquake show, that at the heart of the L'Aquila case lies the notion of expertise. This paper will first formulate a research question that seeks to understand the conceptualizations of normative and non-normative approaches to expertise. Subsequently both lines of thought will be discussed in detail. The following chapter will then reflect on what both approaches will allow us to see in the case of the L'Aquila earthquake. Finally, the last chapter will summarize the findings, providing further context and contrast to both lines of thought.