245 research outputs found
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Justification
In the most general sense, the termâjustificationâ refers to the act of providing reasons for the validity, legitimacy, and defensibility of (1) an action, (2) a belief, and/or (3) a social arrangement. Thus, justificatory practices âwhich may be described as reason-giving acts oriented toward demonstrating that something is right, cogent,and persuasiveâemerge in relation to (1) empirical and behavioral, (2) conceptual and ideological, and/or (3) conventional and institutional processes and structures
Epistemological Tensions in Bourdieu's Conception of Social Science
The main purpose of this paper is to explore Pierre Bourdieuâs conception of social science. To this end, the paper sheds light on the main epistemological presuppositions that undergird Bourdieuâs defence of reflexive sociology as a scientific endeavour. The predominant view in the literature is that, in most of his writings,Bourdieu has a tendency to embrace a positivist conception of social science. When examining Bourdieuâs conception of social science in more detail, however, it becomes clear that the assumption that he remains trapped in a positivist paradigm does not do justice to the complexity of his multifaceted account of social science. In order to illustrate the complexity of Bourdieuâs conception of social science, the following analysis scrutinises ten epistemological tensions which can be found in Bourdieuâs writings on the nature of knowledge production. In view of these epistemological tensions, a more fine-grained picture emerges which demonstrates that Bourdieu invites,and indeed compels, us to reflect upon the complexity of the various tension-laden tasks posed by the pursuit of a critical social science
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Change the World by Cracking Capitalism? A Critical Encounter between John Holloway and Simon Susen
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The Seductive Force of âNoumenal Powerâ: A New Path (or Impasse) for Critical Theory?
The main purpose of this paper is to examine Rainer Forstâs account of ânoumenal powerâ. Forstâs proposal for a revised âcritical theory of powerâ is firmly embedded in his philosophical understanding of âthe right to justificationâ. Whereas the latter has been extensively discussed in the secondary literature, the former has â with the exception of various exchanges that have taken place between Forst and his critics at academic conferences â received little attention. This paper is an attempt to fill this gap in the literature. Given the increasing influence of Forstâs scholarly writings on paradigmatic developments in contemporary critical theory, it is imperative to scrutinize the key assumptions underlying his conception of ânoumenal powerâ and to assess its usefulness for overcoming the shortcomings of alternative explanatory frameworks. In order to accomplish this, the analysis is divided into four parts. The first part provides some introductory definitional reflections on the concept of power. The second part focuses on several dichotomous meanings attached to the concept of power â notably, âsoft powerâ vs. âhard powerâ, âpower toâ vs. âpower overâ, and âpower forâ vs. âpower againstâ. The third part elucidates the principal features of Forstâs interpretation of ânoumenal powerâ, in addition to drawing attention to his typological distinction between âpowerâ, âruleâ, âdominationâ, and âviolenceâ. The final part offers an assessment of Forstâs account of ânoumenal powerâ, arguing that, although it succeeds in avoiding the drawbacks of rival approaches, it suffers from significant limitations. The paper concludes by giving a synopsis of the vital insights that can be obtained from the preceding inquiry
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Boltanski, Luc (1940â)
This article provides a brief introduction to the life and work of Luc Boltanski, who is widely regarded as one of the most influential French sociologists of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. The article is divided into two main parts. The first part offers a summary of Boltanski's biographical trajectory and academic career. The second part gives a comprehensive overview of Boltanski's major works and intellectual contributions. The concluding section presents a short assessment of Boltanski's overall impact upon the contemporary social sciences, particularly in terms of the international relevance of his writings. The bibliography contains key primary and secondary sources, reflecting not only the prolific development of Boltanski's oeuvre, but also the strong influence his work has had, and continues to have, on cutting-edge forms of social and political analysis
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Critical Notes on Habermasâs Theory of the Public Sphere
The main purpose of this paper is to examine Habermasâs account of the transformation of the public sphere in modern society. More specifically, the study aims to demonstrate that, whilst Habermasâs approach succeeds in offering useful insights into the structural transformation of the public sphere in the early modern period, it does not provide an adequate theoretical framework for understanding the structural transformation of public spheres in late modern societies. To the extent that the gradual differentiation of social life manifests itself in the proliferation of multiple public spheres, a critical theory of public normativity needs to confront the challenges posed by the material and ideological complexity of late modernity in order to account for the polycentric nature of advanced societies. With the aim of showing this, the paper is divided into three sections. The first section elucidates the sociological meaning of the public/private dichotomy. The second section scrutinizes the key features of Habermasâs theory of the public sphere by reflecting on (i) the concept of the public sphere, (ii) the normative specificity of the bourgeois public sphere, and (iii) the structural transformation of the public sphere in modern society. The third section explores the most substantial shortcomings of Habermasâs theory of the public sphere, particularly its inability to explain the historical emergence and political function of differentiated public spheres in advanced societies
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Kritische Gesellschaftstheorie or kritische Gesellschaftspraxis? Robin Celikates, Kritik als soziale Praxis. Gesellschaftliche SelbstverstÀndigung und kritische Theorie (Frankfurt am Main, Campus Verlag, 2009)
Robin Celikatesâs recent book, entitled Kritik als soziale Praxis. Gesellschaftliche SelbstverstĂ€ndigung und kritische Theorie (Criticism as Social Practice: Social Self-Understanding and Critical Theory), published by Campus Verlag in 2009, is undoubtedly one of the most significant contributions made to the field of critical theory over the past few years. If there is one major problem with this volume, it is the fact that it has still not been translated into, let alone published in, English. Given the conceptual precision, methodological rigour, intellectual originality, and thought-provoking argument of this study, one can only hope the volume will soon be available in English, so that its timely relevance and scholarly quality can be appreciated by a wider international readership in general and by Anglophone researchers working in the humanities and social sciences in particular. It is not often that one reads a book from cover to cover and has the pleasant experience of noticing that every single paragraph, and indeed every single sentence, is carefully crafted, meticulously organized, and thoroughly researched. One must congratulate the author for putting together a long-needed treasure of a book which makes a convincing case for the view that the very possibility of critical theory depends on its capacity to ground itself in the normative potentials and everyday disputes of society, rather than in the abstract concepts and sterile epistemic frameworks of armchair philosophy. In order to illustrate the complexity of Celikatesâs ambitious endeavour, this review article shall provide a succinct overview of the main arguments and contributions, as well as of several noteworthy shortcomings and limitations, of Kritik als soziale Praxis
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