Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2009, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (3): 101-132.

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From Dualism to Duality: On Bourdieu’s Theory of Social Viewpoint

LIU Yong-hua   

  • Online:2009-05-20 Published:2009-05-20

Abstract:

Bourdieu opposes the approach that regards society as the entity of the matter structure, thinking that this structure is sensational and touchable; he also opposes the approach that regards society as the representation and the will, thinking that these are present in subjective perceptions. In other words, he opposes the approach to searching for the existence of society in the dualistic models in terms of the society and the individual, the matter and the spirit, or the structure and the action. In this way, the point about society in Bourdieu’s social theory regards society as an organic body constructed by its actor and its culture. This particular social viewpoint is based on his interpretation of doxa. The field and the habit constitute the existential duality. By means of this, Bourdieu has launched materialist anthropological analysis.

Key words: doxa, dualism, duality, social viewpoint, economic returns , peasant workers , social acceptance, social identity, subjective recognition of economic contributions  , human capital