300155 Lektürekurs: On Justification: Economies of Worth (Boltanski/Thévenot) (Vertiefendes Theorieseminar 30-M4) (S) (WiSe 2017/2018)

Contents, comment

As we go about our lives, we are continuously required to justify our acts. This we can especially see in situations of dispute when we are asked to explain our rationales for making certain choices or having certain preferences. Many situations we find ourselves in and many disagreements we have with others can be explained by our appealing, consciously or not, to different principles. In their seminal work, “On Justification: Economies of Worth”, Luc Boltanski and Laurent Thévenot, French pragmatist sociologists, lay down a theoretical understanding of these principles, or modes of justification, which they call orders of worth.

The book examines a wide range of situations where people justify their actions. In doing so, the authors differentiate between six main logics which our justifications follow, exemplified by six authors: civic (Rousseau), market (Adam Smith), industrial (Saint-Simon), domestic (Bossuet), inspiration (Augustine), and fame (Hobbes). Across a range of situations, the authors show how these different orders of worth conflict as people seek to legitimize their views.

In this course, we will jointly read the book and examine its argument from a theoretical but also pragmatic perspective.

The course will be interactive and students are encouraged to share their ideas, thoughts, experiences and personal views on the issues discussed.

Bibliography

Boltanski, L., & Thévenot, L. (2006). "On Justification: Economies of Worth". Princeton University Press.

Teaching staff

Dates ( Calendar view )

Frequency Weekday Time Format / Place Period  
weekly Mo 14-16 X-B3-117 09.10.2017-02.02.2018
not on: 12/25/17 / 1/1/18 / 1/29/18
one-time Mi 10-12 - 10.01.2018 X-C2-216

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Subject assignments

Module Course Requirements  
25-FS-EM Einführungsmodul E2: Einführende Veranstaltung aus den Fakultäten - Student information
E3: Einführende Veranstaltung aus den Fakultäten - Student information
25-FS-GM Grundlagenmodul E2: Einführende Veranstaltung aus den Fakultäten - Student information
E3: Einführende Veranstaltung aus den Fakultäten - Student information
30-M22 Fachmodul Soziologische Theorie/ Geschichte der Soziologie I 1. Vertiefendes Theorieseminar Study requirement
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2. Vertiefendes Theorieseminar Study requirement
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- Graded examination Student information
30-M31 Fachmodul Soziologische Theorie/ Geschichte der Soziologie II (erweitert) Vertiefendes Theorieseminar 1 Study requirement
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Vertiefendes Theorieseminar 2 Study requirement
Student information
- Graded examination Student information
30-M4_ver1 Soziologische Theorie I Vertiefendes Theorieseminar Study requirement
Student information
- Graded examination Student information
30-M9 Soziologische Theorie II (Vertiefung) Vertiefungsseminar zur soziologischen Theorie I Study requirement
Student information
Vertiefungsseminar zur soziologischen Theorie II Study requirement
Student information
- Graded examination Student information

The binding module descriptions contain further information, including specifications on the "types of assignments" students need to complete. In cases where a module description mentions more than one kind of assignment, the respective member of the teaching staff will decide which task(s) they assign the students.


1) In-class:

- Students are expected to read the assigned chapters for each class before coming to the class. For information: the book has 10 chapters and each is about 10-15 pages. No reading prior to the start of the course is required.
- Active participation in the class.

2) Exam ("aktive Teilnahme"):

- Students are expected to hand in *two* summaries of different chapters from the book by the end of January 2018. Each summary should be in English and should be at least 1.000 words long (which is around 1,5 - 2 pages).

3) Term paper (“Einzelleistung”):

Those who, in addition to 1 and 2, wish to write the paper (“Einzelleistung”) should discuss their ideas with the teacher prior to writing.

E-Learning Space
E-Learning Space
Registered number: 16
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WS2017_300155@ekvv.uni-bielefeld.de
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Last update basic details/teaching staff:
Thursday, May 18, 2017 
Last update times:
Wednesday, December 20, 2017 
Last update rooms:
Wednesday, December 20, 2017 
Type(s) / SWS (hours per week per semester)
seminar (S) / 2
Language
This lecture is taught in english
Department
Faculty of Sociology
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