The Logic of Practice

The Logic of Practice has established itself as a modern classic in the social sciences. It provides a systematic account of Bourdieu’s theoretical approach and confirms his reputation as one of the most original and exciting thinkers in the social sciences today. Drawing on his own fieldwork as well as wide range of ethnographic and anthropological texts, Bourdieu unfolds a theoretical perspective which does justice to the practical logic of everyday action as well as to the objective structures within which such action takes place. A thorough understanding of practice requires the analyst to move beyond objectivism and subjectivism and to grasp, by means of the concept of habitus, the interplay of structures and practices in the conduct of everyday life. Bourdieu applies his theoretical perspective to the analysis of kinship patterns, the social construction of domestic space, social categories of perception and classification, and ritualized actions and exchanges.