Luc Boltanski stands as a pivotal figure in late twentieth and early twenty-first-century French sociology. He is recognized as a leading proponent of the 'pragmatic' tradition in contemporary social and political thought, notably co-founding an approach he terms 'pragmatic sociology of critique'. Boltanski challenges formulaic sociological methods, exploring established societal issues from fresh perspectives. His work illuminates the inherent contradictions within social reality and the agency individuals possess to reshape situations, earning acclaim for its theoretical originality and methodological innovation.
The book features a debate between sociologist Luc Boltanski and political philosopher Nancy Fraser, exploring recent advancements in political philosophy and sociology alongside current social and political challenges. It includes a new essay by Fraser and previously untranslated interviews, adding depth to the discourse and providing insights into contemporary issues.
New edition of this major work examining the development of neoliberalism In this established classic, sociologists Luc Boltanski and Eve Chiapello get to the heart of contemporary capitalism. Delving deep into the latest management texts informing the thinking of employers, the authors trace the contours of a new spirit of capitalism. They argue that beginning in the mid-1970s, capitalism abandoned the hierarchical Fordist work structure and developed a new network-based form of organization founded on employee initiative and autonomy in the workplace—a putative freedom bought at the cost of material and psychological security. This was a spirit in tune with the libertarian and romantic currents of the period (as epitomized by dressed-down, cool capitalists such as Bill Gates and Ben and Jerry) and, as the authors argue, a more successful, pernicious, and subtle form of exploitation. In this new edition, the authors reflect on the reception of the book and the debates it has stimulated.
A pathbreaking new book by one of the world s leading sociologists * The book is a study of the rise of detective novels and spy novels in the 19th and 20th centuries, and Boltanski shows that these genres tell us something important about the nature of modern societies and the modern state.
Luc Boltanski's book delves into the complex social dynamics surrounding abortion, a topic often shrouded in secrecy. Through interviews and hospital reports, he examines the contradictions within the social contract regarding human uniqueness and replaceability. The work explores symbolic adoption and societal perceptions of embryos, offering a unique perspective on this contentious issue.
People care a great deal about justice. They protest and engage in confrontations with others when their sense of justice is affronted or disturbed. When they do this, they don’t generally act in a strategic or calculating way but use arguments that claim a general validity. Disputes are commonly regulated by these ‘regimes of justice’ implicit in everyday social life. But justice is not the only regime that governs action. There are some actions that are selfless and gratuitous, and that belong to what might be called a regime of ‘peace’ or ‘love’. In the course of their everyday lives, people constantly move back and forth between these two regimes, that of justice and that of love. And everyone also has the capacity for violence, which arises when the regulation of action within either of these regimes breaks down. In Love and Justice as Competences, Boltanski lays out this highly original framework for analysing the action of individuals as they pursue their day-to-day lives. The framework outlined in this important book is the basis for the path-breaking work that he has developed over the last twenty years – work that has examined the moral foundations of society in and through the forms of everyday conflict. For anyone who wants to understand what a critical sociology might mean today, this book is an essential text.
This is a major new work of social theory by one of the leading sociologists in France today. Formerly a close collaborator of Pierre Bourdieu, Luc Boltanski has gone on to develop his own distinctive brand of critical, pragmatic sociology
Considers morally acceptable response to images of war, famine etc. brought to us by television.