From: S.Pines-Martin-AT-iaea.org
Subject: RE: Polemics about Bourdieu in France
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 18:10:24 +0200


Dear Olivier,

>for those who haven't read Le Monde at the end of August (and are tired of
the
>micro-quibblings about the true philosophy in Pierre Bourdieu's work), here
are  (in
>violation of the copyright laws) some excerpts of the very subtle paper of
Bernard
>Lahire, published in Le Monde of the 28th of August

Thank you very much for your transcript from Le Monde. It was really
very interesting. Just a small comment, and then a petition: For someone
like me, who lives outside of his native country and finds it sometimes
difficult to participate as directly as he would like to in public
political issues, micro-quibbling about the philosophical issues that
underlie a sociological theory, which is politically relevant beyond its
specific context of origination, is sometimes a way, however meager and
inadequate, of "participating", rather than just looking on. That is
also the reason why I try to see philosophical issues as political ones
--be they disguised, misrecognised, or whatever (see my last posting).
Reading Bernard Lahire's critique of Bourdieu, I was surprised to find
there an echo of my disquiet concerning the effects of Bourdieu's work.
And in fact I believe it is beginning to reflect itself in this list. I
have personally observed a "Bourdieu effect" in students and readers of
his work which has always disturbed me, and I think Lahire brings this
phenomenon to our attention - and I agree with a good deal of his views,
even though my admiration for Bourdieu's work and my efforts to
understand and apply it never wane. Bourdieu has advocated the advance
of reason in the social sciences, a "Realpolitik" of reason, in a way
which has attracted the attention and admiration of many - many of whom
have ended up doing exactly what Lahire criticises in Bourdieu: anything
but fulfilling the practice that was so forcefully advanced (the
sorceror and his apprentices... how many people have I heard,
brandishing "habitus" and "field" like mad with an air of sophistication
and the aim of satisfying god knows what obscure motivations that a
proper use of those selfsame concepts could have clarified for them? --
I am not saying that Bourdieu's present political motivations are
obscure though! I agree with him!). What upsets me in the present case
--this confused international and chaotic list-- is how the "affair
Bourdieu" is being brought up without arguments, without a productive
interchange of views on information, information which is truly meager.
In this sense, I really thank you that you sent this excerpt, and could
you please keep it up, that is, if you could provide us with more
information, chronological or whatever, of Bourdieu's public activities,
his intellectual-engaged stance, arguments, defense, attack, etc.
Perhaps we could all comment on this. Truly, theory and practice need
not be severed from one another: could we not exchange our points of
view, even tear ourselves critically appart, for example by giving good
grounds for aborting micro-quibbling, or by bringing out the errors of
such quibbling by directly addressing oneself to its inadequacies, etc.,
etc.? ("Characteristics of the Web?" -- political impotence!) Otherwise
we're in a sorry situation: some will have nothing to do with the
thoughts of others, engaged as they are in the immediate practical
affairs that concern them, while those lost in their speculations cannot
find anything concrete in which to anchor themselves in order to
participate and reply.... The "Realpolitik" in which reason and practice
should interconnect seems to be falling appart, before even having
started. A pity. I will promptly stop my quibble-postings until anyone
shows any further interest, if ever - and in the meantime, I hope to
hear more about these affairs, so that I may perhaps be allowed to
participate!

Regards,
>Sergio
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