Classification Struggles

Pierre Bourdieu (1930–2002) was Professor of Sociology at the Collège de France and Director of Studies at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales.

• Acknowledgements ixLecture of 28 April 1982 1Teaching researchThe logic of research and the logic of expositionWhat is classification?Classifying the classifying subjectConstructed divisions and real divisionsThe insultLecture of 5 May 1982 15The act of institutionThe insult as magical behaviourCoding individualsDividing realityThe example of socio-occupational categoriesLecture of 12 May 1982 30Objective classification and objectivityObjective indicators and strategies of self-representationParenthesis on monumental historyThe ruses of sociological reasonAn objective definition of objective indicators?The objectivist momentThe geometrical point of convergence of all perspectivesThe problem of samplingLecture of 19 May 1982 48The legitimate definition of the principle of definitionOperations of research as acts of constitutionClassification as an object of conflictObjectifying objectivismGood classification and scholastic biasTheoretical classification and practical classificationLecture of 26 May 1982 64Moving beyond the alternativesReality and representations of realityThe autonomy of the social and the problem of self-awarenessThe law, a special case of theory effectWords as common senseLecture of 2 June 1982 80The act of consecrationThe symbolic struggle over classificationSymbolic capitalThe manipulation of boundaries between groupsDefending one's capitalLecture of 9 June 1982 101The accumulation of symbolic capitalNames and titles as forms of objectificationMaking publicThe institutionalization of symbolic capitalThe two bodiesConsensual imaginanesLecture of 16 June 1982 118Acting 'in the name of...'On delegationThe state and perspectivismThe problem of the truth of the social worldValidation by consensus or objective evidenceSituating the Course on General Sociology in the work of Pierre Bourdieu Patrick Champagne Julien Duval 134Appendix Summary of lectures, published in the Annuaire du Collège de France 155Notes 158Index 176