An Invitation to Reflexive Sociology

ISBN-13: 9780745610337 / Angielski / Miękka / 1992 / 336 str.

Loic (University of California at Berkeley) Wacquant

Opis

Over the last three decades, Pierre Bourdieu has produced one of the most imaginative and subtle bodies of social theory and research of the post war era. Yet, despite the his influence, no single introduction to his wide-ranging work is available. This book offers a systematic and accessible overview, providing interpretive keys to the internal logic of Bourdieu's work by explicating thematic and methodological principles underlying his work. The structure of Bourdieu's theory of knowledge, practice and society is first dissected by Loic Wacquant; he then collaborates with Bourdieu in a dialogue in which they discuss central concepts of Bourdieu's work, confront the main objections and criticisms his work has met, and outline Bourdieu's view of the relation of sociology to philosophy, economics, history and politics. The final section captures Bourdieu in action in the seminar room as he addresses the topic of how to practive the craft of reflexive sociology.

Recenzje

′A rare opportunity to experience a great mind in action outside the usual conventions of academic self–presentation.′
Paul DiMaggio, Princeton University

′The leading French sociologist of our generation, already well known through his researches and theoretical formulations, he appears here in the first person, in dialogue and in seminar, and in the magnifying glass of Loic Wacquant. One hopes the appeal of this self–presentation does not eclipse Bourdieu′s other major works, for An Invitation to Reflexive Sociology promises to be Bourdieu′s most widely–read book.′
Randall Collins, University of California, Riverside

Spis treści

Preface.

Part I: Towards a Social Praxeology: The Structure and Logic of Bourdieu′s Sociology.

1. Beyond the Antinomy of Social Physics and Social Phenomenology.

2. Classification Struggles and the Dialectic of Social and Mental Structures.

3. Methodological Relationalism.

4. The Fuzzy Logic of Practical Sense.

5. Against Theoreticism and Methodologism: Total Social Science.

6. Epistemic Reflexivity.

7. Reason, Ethics and Politics.

Part II: The Purpose of Reflexive Sociology (The Chicago Workshop).

1. Sociology as Socioanalysis.

2. The Unique and the Invariant.

3. The Logic of Fields.

4. Interest, Habitus, Rationality.

5. Language, Gender, and Symbolic Violence.

6. For a Realpolitik of Reason.

7. The Personal is Social.

Part III: The Practice of Reflexive Sociology (The Paris Workshop).

1. Handing Down a Trade.

2. Thinking Relationally.

3. A Radical Doubt.

4. ′Double Bind′ and Conversion.

5. Participant Objectivation.

Appendices.

References and Bibliography.

Name Index.

Subject Index

O autorze

Pierre Bourdieu was Professor of Sociology at the Collège de France.

Loïc Wacquant is Professor of Sociology at the University of California–Berkeley and Researcher at the Centre de sociologie européenne–Paris.

Blurb

Over the last three decades, Pierre Bourdieu has produced one of the most imaginative and subtle bodies of social theory and research of the post war era. Yet, despite the his influence, no single introduction to his wide–ranging work is available. This book offers a systematic and accessible overview, providing interpretative keys to the internal logic of Bourdieu′s work by explicating thematic and methodological principles underlying his work.

Firstly Loic Wacquant provides a clear and systematic account of the main themes of Bourdieu′s work, outlining his conception of knowledge, his theory of practice and his distinctive methods of analysis. In the second part of the book Wacquant collaborates with Bourdieu to discuss the central concepts of Bourdieu′s work, confront some criticisms and objections, and develop Bourdieu′s views on the relations between sociology, philosophy, history and politics. Finally Bourdieu displays his sociological approach in practice: beginning with the practical demands of research, he moves, step by step, to a formulation of the principles of sociological reason.

Supplemented by an extensive and up–to–date bibliography, this book will be essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand Bourdieu′s unique and outstanding contribution to contemporary social thought.