Deconstructing Pierre Bourdieu: Against Sociological Terrorism from the Left

In the early 1990's, Pierre Bourdieu “the scientist” and Hans Haacke the artist,¹ feeling themselves to be “in affinity”, decided to tape and then edit a discussion in which “each one would add information and reflections, and react to the other' reactions”.² Hoping to preserve “the spontaneity of the original exchange”, they hoped even more that despite the political and cultural changes that had occurred in the United States and France (the interview took place at the end of 1991, and the editing work was completed at the end of 1993), this dialogue would preserve its “efficacy” [efficacité]. What does efficacité mean? According to the Petit Robert dictionary, it is the “Capacity to produce the maximum results with the minimum of effort and expenditure.” Minimum of effort, I believe, but what are the results? And where is the science? For we must not forget

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