Understanding Social Grandeur: Boltanski and Thévenot's Theory on Honor and Greatness OR The Political Forms of Grandeur: A Sociological Analysis by Luc Boltanski and Laurent Thévenot OR Boltanski on Honor and Greatness as Social Constructions Here is the chosen title: Boltanski and Thévenot's Theory on Honor and Social Grandeur
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Sociology, social construction, honor, greatness, Luc Boltanski, Laurent Thévenot, social structures, public opinion, utilitarianism, industry, science, political forms, societal organization, power struggles, Saint-Simon, Hobbes, social justice, moral values, community, leadership, expertise
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Abstract
Luc Boltanski and Laurent Thévenot's sociological analysis explores the concept of grandeur and honor as social constructions that vary with context. In their theory, they examine how people manage contradictions in society, highlighting that honor is not an intrinsic moral quality, but rather a value assigned by others through public opinion and social structures. This perspective reveals that societal grandeur is often determined by petty power struggles and games of appearance, where the intellectual elite, comprising industrialists and scientists, should ideally hold control due to their understanding of the State's material needs. The authors propose a utilitarian view of society, where everyone submits to an order to maximize production, wealth, and social organization. By structuring society as a human body with complementary functions, they flesh out a utopian vision where industry and science replace the old aristocracy. Ultimately, Boltanski and Thévenot's work sheds light on the complex dynamics of honor, power, and social validation, emphasizing that true greatness is often overshadowed by the quest for recognition and the blurring of authenticity in relationships.
Extract
[...] Is it greatness or just servitude? Rousseau warns us when he says that this dependence, even disguised as friendship or favor, is never far from humiliation. In fact, it's a comedy where everyone is playing tricks on everyone. But injustice always starts there. This false equality turns into emotional dependence, we understand why Rousseau does everything to keep his distance. We are prisoners of honors and flattering looks. - Boltanski goes further by talking about 'tromperie affective, of manipulation in power relations"». [...]
[...] But in reality, it's always more complicated. This is how Saint-Simon wanted it, a society that takes care of itself, a science of society that repairs flaws like a doctor would treat a sick body. It's very utopian. Yes, it reminds us just how ambitious philosophers were in their vision. But the real question is whether we can really reduce human interactions to well-defined social gears. I would say that's a bit reductive. Society is more disordered than that: with its unpredictabilities, conflicts, emotions. [...]
[...] « Debate Question : Who among you is pretending to live their life happily? Who among you is wearing a mask by hiding their true intentions? Almost everyone in this room. And you know why? [...]
[...] - They even have technical terms to explain this: 'the common superior principle'. It's a way of saying 'okay, what's the most important thing above everything else? Is it efficiency, morality, or something else?'." - The idea is that in this complex society, we are constantly trying to reconcile everyone, but it's not that simple. And there, they take it even further by coming up with the idea of 'the multiplicity of worlds'. It's like we're living in parallel worlds that coexist. [...]
[...] It's a very utilitarian view of society, where everyone must submit to an order to maximize production, wealth and social organization. And he wants to convey the idea that the intellectual elite - not artists or poets, but industrialists and scientists - should have control over society because they better understand the material needs of the State. Creativity and culture? It's a kind of technocracy. This way of placing money and industry at the top of everything. And people don't work like machines so we're very far from reality. [...]
