Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 13:45:11 +1000 (EST)
From: Gary MacLennan <g.maclennan-AT-qut.edu.au>
Subject: Introduction to Bhaskar was Re: BHA: Come back, little Sheba


y So now I'm composing a tiny intro to critical realism. 
>In the meantime, however, I thought maybe it would be useful to run the
>question by you all: what do others of you think is the relationship
>(comparison, contrast, whatever) between Bourdieu and Bhaskar?
>
>---
>Tobin Nellhaus


Tobin,

I am starting a Bhaskar reading group here at QUT.  It looks like we might
finally have reached take off point in terms of an interest in DCR at least
in Brisbane. 

But I am not at all sure how or where to begin.  My instincts are to start
with the Dialectic,(Why should they be happy?)  but do you or anyone else
have any suggestions here?

Now as to Bourdieu and Bhaskar, for me the biggest difference is that
Bourdieu works so clearly from a class model. Bhaskar with his concrete
singularity has relatively little to say about class. No?

However with notions like doxa Bourdieu does tend almost to suggest that if
you are working class you will have introjected notions from the upper classes.

Now Bhaskar for me is much stronger on the radical openness of reality and a
great deal closer to handling the complexities of the social.

But having said that notions, such as cultural capital, symbolic  capital,
symbolic violence and "ease and confidence" have all been very useful in
terms of the sociology of education.

regards

Gary



     --- from list bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---