Social structure, its epistemological uses, and the construction of the subject in Bourdieu's sociology

Leyton, D. (2014) Social structure, its epistemological uses, and the construction of the subject in Bourdieu's sociology. Universum, 29(2), pp. 169-183. (doi: 10.4067/S0718-23762014000200012)

Abstract

This paper discusses the notion of social structure in Pierre Bourdieu’s sociology. It contextualizes the notion of social structure and its conception in Bourdieu’s work highlighting the central functions the concept has had in the field of sociology. Taking into account some relevant critical positions around the concept of social structure and Bourdieu’s sociology a critical exam of those positions is developed, deploying an alternative interpretation of the use of the concept given by the French sociologist, showing its contribution to the construction of an autonomous subject with capacity of collective agency. The concept of social structure operates as a generative tool of epistemological vigilance against reductionist representations of the subjects and their conditions of existence allowing the emergence of notions such as temporal dislocation, indeterminacy, dialectic, and socio-analysis which are contributing to the construction of a more emancipated subject.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Leyton Atenas, Mr Daniel
• Authors: Leyton, D.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Journal Name: Universum
• Publisher: Universidad de Talca
• ISSN: 0716-498X
• ISSN (Online): 0718-2376
• Published Online: 01 December 2014
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © The Author(s) 2014
• First Published: First published in Universum 29(2): 169-183
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence