Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 12:09:03 +0100 (BST)
From: Karl <kam13-AT-hermes.cam.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: abstraction or sociology ?



> It is true that a lot of our discussion are of a theoretical character (and
> I am afraid that I have contributed very much to that), but first I would
> say that theory is what we have in common while all our empirical research
> is what divides us (or is at least not shared, and only to be shared
> through elaborate discussions) -- thus it is not so strange that
> discussions tend to be theoretical. 

Hi Carsten!

I wouldn't and indeed didn't disagree with any of the above - well said!
(the original post wasn't mine; my post dosn't disagree with the above
in any way).

Second, I would say that a great deal
> of work is necessary for a real understanding of Bourdieu's theoretical (or
> epistemological) position -- and this work is very much a sort of empirical
> research into the history and sociology of philosophical, sociological etc.
> ideas. 

Again, I agree.  (see MY post, an answer to a previous one against
philosophial discussion)

The necessity of this work is for me highlighted by the insistence
> of turning Bourdieu into a critical realist in the sense of Bhaskar which I
> take to be a meaningless exercice: for purely chronological reasons I
> suppose it would make more sense to turn critical realism into a sort of
> Bourdieusianism, even if it would still be meaningless in terms of
> intellectual history. 

Ah, I didn't and wouldn't say that the aim or intention is to turn
Bourdieu into a critical realist, but to analyse to what extent Bourdieu
could be said to operate with a realist ontology.  The former is a field
positioning strategy, the latter an intellectual question.

If their positions resemble each other, it might be
> because they have common roots somewhere, or position themselves in
> relation to comparable "spaces of possibles". Beware of the national
> contexts and the international circulation of ideas! The problems there are
> indeed very much visible for someone who is situated at the margins of the
> dominant traditions, but have tried to acquire some acquantaince of French,
> German, English, and American traditions.

I am a bit concerned about the frequency with which the issue of 'the
international circulation of ideas' is used.  To be more precise, in any
discussion of Bourdieu and critical realism in the terms I use above, this
is not the primary issue.  When comparing the ideas of Bourdieu and e.g.
Bhaskar, it would be.  

Best wishes,

Karl

**********************************************************************
Contributions: bourdieu-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
Commands: majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
Requests: bourdieu-approval-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu