Economics Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Discourse: Discourse is a form of communication involving the exchange of ideas, information, and opinions. It can be spoken or written, and it can take place in a variety of settings. Discourses are important for sharing thoughts, learning, building relationships, solving problems, and making decisions. See also Discourse theory._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Social Sciences on Discourse - Dictionary of Arguments
Gaus I 156 Discourse/Social sciences/Bohman: (...) [in the 60s and 70s of the 20th century] the philosophy of social science attempted an 'interpretive turn', in which agents' own self-interpretations become central to making actions intelligible to us, rather than explaining actions in light of causal laws or mechanisms available to the observer. In interpretive social science, texts and discourse become central objects for interpretation (Geertz, 1973(1); Taylor, 1985(2)), while the focus on shared meaning led to the rejection of the emphasis on individual preferences and aggregation common to rational choice theorists. In social theory, then, these turns gave new importance to the potential generative role of communication and the structuring role of language and linguistic practices. >Speech act theory, >Discourse/Political theory. Gaus I 158 Social scientific approaches look closely at the specific features of discursive contexts, noting for example the role of social status in the emergence of the scientific discourse (Shapin, 1994)(3) or the role that slavery and racial categories play in the discourse on citizenship in American history (Smith, 1997)(4). Cf. >Discourse theory/Bohman. Here we find that the closer we look at actual discourses, the more they depart from the ideal procedural conditions that constitute their rationality. Moreover, ethnomethodological discourse analysis tied to specific situations shows that norms and rules are highly flexible and contingent in their application in informal contexts, even if they are crucial to the act of making others intelligible (Heritage, 1984)(5). The critical legal studies movement has shown that many legal and constitutional norms are indeterminate, and even capable of justifying decisions that now seem to contradict them (Unger, 1986)(6). Vs: There are two main critics who take these empirically informed challenges a step further in language related to social power: Michel Foucault(1) and his theory of 'discursive formations' as regimes of truth, and Pierre Bourdieu and his conception of symbolic power. >Discourse/Foucault, >Discourse/Bourdieu. 1. Geertz, Clifford (1973) Interpretation of Cultures. New York: Basic. 2. Taylor, Charles (1985) 'Interpretation and the sciences of man'. In his Collected Papers: Volume 2. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 3. Shapin, Stephen (1994) A Social History of Truth. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. 4. Smith, Rogers (1997) Civic Ideals. New Haven: Yale University Press. 5. Heritage, John (1984) Garfinkel and Ethnomethodology. Cambridge: Polity. 6. Unger, Roberto (1986) The Critical Legal Studies Movement. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. 7. Foucault, Michel (1977) Discipline and Punish. New York: Vantage. Bohman, James 2004. „Discourse Theory“. In: Gaus, Gerald F. & Kukathas, Chandran 2004. Handbook of Political Theory. SAGE Publications_____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Social Sciences Gaus I Gerald F. Gaus Chandran Kukathas Handbook of Political Theory London 2004 |
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