An Invitation to Reflexive SociologyOver the last three decades, the French sociologist 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 influence of his work, no single introduction to his wide-ranging oeuvre is available. This book, intended for an English-speaking audience, 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 views 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 practice the craft of reflexive sociology. Throughout, they stress Bourdieu's emphasis on reflexivity—his inclusion of a theory of intellectual practice as an integral component of a theory of society—and on method—particularly his manner of posing problems that permits a transfer of knowledge from one area of inquiry into another. Amplified by notes and an extensive bibliography, this synthetic view is essential reading for both students and advanced scholars. |
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academic Actes action analysis anthropology artistic field autonomy Boltanski Bour Bourdieu 1989a Chamboredon cial Collège de France concepts constituted construction critical critique cultural capital defined determined dieu discourse dispositions domination economic Edited effect empirical epistemological ethnomethodology fact field Bourdieu field of power forces France French function gender Grandes écoles habitus Heidegger historical Homo Academicus individual inscribed instance institutions intellectual interaction interest Kabyle knowledge language linguistic logic Marxism means methodological objectivation objective structures ologists ontology opposition Paris particular Passeron perception philosophy Pierre Bourdieu political position positivist practice praxeology principle problems production question rational reality recherche en sciences Reflexive Sociology relation representation reproduction Saint Martin scholarly sciences sociales scientific field scientist sense social agents social science social space social world society sociologist specific stake strategies struc struggles symbolic power symbolic violence theoretical theory tion translation modified universe