ABSTRACT
It is argued that Luc Boltanski’s sociology of critique makes an important contribution to two of critical theory’s central considerations: the empirical analysis of the contradictions and conflicts of capitalist societies, on the one hand, and the reflexive clarification of the epistemological and normative grounds of critique, on the other hand. Boltanski’s pragmatist sociology is shown to have been shaped by its formative critique of Bourdieu’s critical sociology and it significantly diverges from the Frankfurt School tradition of critical theory. The latter differences are sketched through a critical assessment of the debate between Honneth and Boltanski. It is, nevertheless, argued that Boltanski’s sociology explores the complications of immanent critique and that his notions of ‘institution,’ ‘hermeneutic contradictions’ and ‘tests’ are highly consequential. Yet, test methodologies are found to be major aspects of new capitalism’s mode of domination and contemporary institution’s legitimations. Boltanski’s distinguishing the dislocation of reality of ‘existential’ tests from ‘reality’ tests seems, on this analysis, to be a critical response to contemporary management’s critical practices. Whilst Boltanski’s innovative conception of critique intersects with Castoriadis’ and Habermas’ respective proposals, it significantly lacks those proposals’ stronger presuppositions and their specifications of how rationality and autonomy give necessary orientation to critique.
