Date: Mon, 05 Feb 2001 12:07:56 +0100
Subject: sociodicy


In addition to Richard Nice's adequate definition of theodicy:
Sociodicy (French: Sociodicée) is a concept formulated by PB himself as far 
as I know. It is precisely the analogy with theodicy that makes the concept 
interesting: the justification of society as it is constructed or created 
by man, including all its imperfections like inequality, power, hierarchy 
etcetera.
Bourdieu uses the concept frequently in 'La Reproduction'  (1970) 
(Reproduction, translated by Richard Nice!) written with Jean-Clause 
Passeron, to demonstrate the nearly inevitable role of the school in 
sustaining and reproducing social inequality. It is the legitimation of the 
selection function of the school, seen as rational and just at the same 
time, often by those who gained the most by it. A very threatening and not 
really optimistic concept, in my opinion, but nevertheless...

Anton Wesselingh

At 13:39 1-2-2001 +0000, you wrote:

>"Theodicy (from Greek theos, "god"; dike, "justice") is the reasonable
>justification of the nature, the structures & the goals of evil in an order
>of things considered as created by God."
>
><lifted from http://www.globalprojects.org/equiaeon/theodicy.htm >
>RN
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-bourdieu-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
>[mailto:owner-bourdieu-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu]On Behalf Of Irvin
>Peckham
>Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2001 9:52 AM
>To: bourdieu-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
>Subject: Re: PB on Weber and more . . . more help with quotations
>needed!
>
>what's the icy suffix in theodicy and sociodicy mean? where does it come
>from?  what's the reference?
>thanks
>
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Anton Wesselingh
Trompenburgstraat 6D
1079 TX Amsterdam
The Netherlands
tel/fax: +31 20 404 33 61
e-mail:a.wesselingh-AT-ped.kun.nl

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