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Luc Boltanski's pragmatic sociology

A Bourdieusian critique

Bibliographic Data

ID2398255
AuthorsWill Atkinson (0000-0002-1032-1241, SPAIS, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume23
Issue3
Pages310-327
Publication date2020-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Journal of Social Theory (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1368-4310 • E-ISSN: 1461-7137
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1368431019855004
OpenAlexW2953406033
LanguageEN
Citations received17
References cited30

Luc Boltanski's programme of pragmatic sociology, now gaining substantial attention among English-speaking sociologists, was forged in opposition to the supposed excesses and blind spots of Pierre Bourdieu's 'critical sociology'. After outlining the main lines of development of Boltanski's project and emphasizing the major points of difference with Bourdieu, the article offers a critical Bourdieusian response to pragmatic sociology. It highlights a number of ways in which Boltanski's position is based on a misreading or distortion of Bourdieu's ideas, is less unlike Bourdieu's position than he claims and suffers from analytical shortcomings. This is not to say there is nothing of value in Boltanski's work, but overall it offers useful pointers to be accommodated rather than a thoroughgoing conceptual revolution

Critical theory · Cultural capital · Epistemology · Habitus · Nothing · Politics · Social science · Sociology · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Law · Philosophy · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Social Capital and Networks

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  • Distant Suffering

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    Open Access•Melanie S Archer, Margaret Scotford Archer•Realist Social Theory•1995

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    Open Access•Luc Boltanski, Eve Chiapello•International Journal of Politics…•2005

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    Open Access•Luc Boltanski, Laurent Thévenot•Social Science Information•1983

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    Pierre Bourdieu, Luc Boltanski•Actes de la recherche en sciences…•1975

  • La dénonciation

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    Pierre Bourdieu•In Other Words•1990

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    Luc Boltanski•Revue Française de Sociologie•1973

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Unique citing works17
Citations per year2,83
Citation span2020 - 2026 (7)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 17
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