Pierre Bourdieu: theorizing the digital

ABSTRACT

Pierre Bourdieu is known for his research in the areas of education and cultural stratification that led to a number of theoretical contributions informing the social sciences. Bourdieu’s interrelated concepts of field, capital, and habitus have become central in many approaches to inequality and stratification across the social sciences. In addition, we argue that Bourdieu’s ideas also feature in what is increasingly known as ‘digital sociology.’ To underscore this claim, we explore the ways in which Bourdieu’s ideas continue to have a major impact on social science research both on and with digital and Internet-based technologies. To do so, we offer a review of both Bourdieusian theorizing of the digital vis-à-vis both research on the social impacts of digital communication technologies and the application of digital technologies to social science research methods. We contend that three interconnected features of Bourdieu’s sociology have allowed his approach to flourish in the digital age: (1) his theories’ inseparability from the practice of empirical research; (2) his ontological stance combining realism and social constructionism; and (3) his familiarity with concepts developed in other disciplines and participation in interdisciplinary collaborative projects. We not only reason that these three factors go some way in accounting for Bourdieu’s influence in many sociological subfields, but we also suggest that they have been especially successful in positioning Bourdieusian sociology to take advantage of opportunities associated with digital communication technologies.     

Supervision of students in social care education: practice teachers’ views of their role

This paper presents findings from research about how practice teachers in social care education in Ireland view their role, in particular what elements they prioritise and what they see as relatively unimportant. The aim of the research was exploratory, seeking to discover commonalities and differences in how practice teachers saw their role in the supervision of social care students. Q methodology was used to compare the participants’ viewpoints. Twenty practice teachers, from varying practice backgrounds and levels of experience, sorted statements outlining aspects of the practice teacher’s role, during individual interviews. Analysis indicates participants had two ways of conceptualising the role. One focuses within the agency, prioritising students’ awareness of the clients using the social care service and policies as guiding practice. The second encapsulates a broader view of learning beyond the agency, focusing on the practice teacher assisting the student to integrate theory with practice and using reflection as a learning tool. Conclusions are drawn in relation to social care education.     

The Scalability of the Shack/Slum Dwellers International Methodology: Context and Constraint in Cape Town

Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI) was created by the Indian Alliance and South African partners. SDI has affiliates in 33 countries and is probably the world's largest network of community peer‐to‐peer knowledge exchange in the area of slum/informal settlement upgrading. Common to the Indian Alliance's ‘Federation Model’ and the SDI methodology are a commitment to community organization and community‐led upgrading that is undertaken in partnership with local government. In a context where it is projected that there will be two billion slum dwellers by 2030, the ambition is to enable tens of millions of households to obtain upgraded housing and services. This article questions the scalability and universality of the SDI methodology in Cape Town, where the SDI Secretariat is located.     

论文化哲学的方法论意蕴

文化哲学所具有的独特性,绝不仅仅表现为一系列新颖的理论观点,方法论革新与进化也是其所追求的重要理论主旨。虽然文化哲学的样态多样,但其方法论原理清晰可辨,主要体现为"从人与文化的关系切入"、"凸显历时意识"、"追求整体取向"和"强调价值诉求"。这一方法论原理具有深刻的实践应用意义,可以作为理论框架分析多种具体对象。     

把握科学发展观的方法论原则

科学发展观的人本取向原则要求把“发展为了人民”作为发展的价值目标,把“发展依靠人民”作为重要的工作路线和工作方法,把“发展成果由人民共享”作为判断发展成败的根本标准。科学发展观的动态均衡原则要求要处理好“以人为本”与以经济建设为中心、全面发展与重点发展、协调发展与优先发展、可持续发展与当前发展等重大关系问题。科学发展观的适度原则要求人们要有适度的情感表达和物质欲求,人口与经济的增长要适度,社会各阶层都要具有适度的利益表达渠道。     

苏格拉底“认识你自己”的哲学价值简

苏格拉底的“认识你自己”的哲学价值表现为：开辟了古希腊哲学研究的新领域,第一次在哲学意义上发现了自我;开创了苏格拉底式的哲学思维方式--辩证的思维方式,为辩证法的诞生提供了源泉;提升了人生命的价值和意义,认为人的肉体只是人灵魂的载体,过分骄纵只会使灵魂的净化受到阻挠。     

也论生态美学的哲学基础

生态美学是哲学美学的一个具体分支学科.哲学美学是以艺术为中心研究人对现实的审美关系的科学,人对现实的审美关系包括三个方面：人对自然的审美关系,人对社会（他人）的审美关系,人对自我的审美关系,而生态美学就是研究人对自然的审美关系的科学.因此,不同的哲学美学产生不同的生态美学,不能强求一律,但是“主体间性”不能作为生态美学的哲学基础,因为“主体间性”只是西方现代主义和后现代主义的一种方法论策略,不具有哲学本体论、认识论、价值论的意义,同时,人与自然的关系,包括人对现实的审美关系不可能仅仅是“主体间性”的.所以,以实践唯物主义为哲学基础的实践美学,才真正完整地以实践本体论、实践认识论、实践价值论、实践辩证法为生态美学所研究的人对自然的审美关系提供了主体性的、客体性的、主客体间性的、主体间性的全方位的研究视角.     

类型电影与类型批评

无论在传统电影批评还是现代电影批评的领域,类型批评都是重要的不可或缺的批评方法之一。它的研究对象类型电影的产生是大工业生产和艺术审美合力的产物;类型电影的本质内涵是模式化,它的创新是在模式基础上的破格;类型批评的历史和类型电影的创作并不同步,在经历了现代批评理论的洗礼后,类型批评呈现出综合化的跨学科的研究趋向。     

保持共产党员先进性教育活动成功经验和哲学思考

在全党开展以实践“三个代表”重要思想为主要内容的保持共产党员先进性教育活动,取得了宝贵而丰富的成功经验。保持党的先进性,加强党的先进性建设,必须同加强党的执政能力建设结合起来;必须坚持马克思主义不动摇,以“三个代表”重要思想为指导,以实践“三个代表”重要思想为核心;坚持把经常性教育与适当的集中教育结合起来;坚持以正面教育与自我教育为主;坚持区别情况,分类指导原则;坚持走群众路线,自觉接受群众监督;坚持把制度建设放在重要位置。这些经验充分体现了马克思主义辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义观点,体现了马克思主义与时俱进品质。     

普通高校体育选项课之分层教学与目标教学的有机整合

根据普通高校体育选项课教学大纲的要求,对分层教学组织形式和目标教学法进行了系统研究,认为二者的有机整合可以有效提高普通高校体育教学的效果。分层教学与目标教学有机整合是分层制订分别适合不同高校大学生的教学目标和考核目标,因材施教,因需指导,因层评价和动态组合等,是帮助学生提高体育学习效果的较好方法,能够让学生最大限度地发挥自身潜力,从而促进大学生身心健康的发展,并帮助他们养成终身体育意识和体育习惯。