Who Is Pierre Bourdieu? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Pierre Bourdieu would have been 95 years old in 2025 if he were still alive today. Born into a modest family in the rural town of Denguin, France, he gained recognition for his innovative theories that address the complexities of cultural and social hierarchies. Bourdieu's main contributions include the concepts of "habitus," "capital," and "field." His works, such as Distinction and The Logic of Practice, remain essential readings in sociology and anthropology.
| Occupation | Anthropologist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 1, 1930 |
| Age | 71 Years |
| Birth Place | Denguin, France |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | France |
| Date of death | 23 January, 2002 |
| Died Place | Paris, France |
Popularity
Pierre Bourdieu's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Since Bourdieu has passed away, specific details about his height and weight at the time of his death are documented in various sources. Bourdieu was known to embody an intellectual presence rather than focus on personal appearance metrics.
- Height: Approximately 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm)
- Weight: Varied throughout his life, specifics are not widely published.
Bourdieu developed a project to investigate the effects—particularly the harm—of neoliberal reforms in France. The most significant fruit of this project was the 1993 study "The Weight of the World", although his views are perhaps more candidly expressed in his articles.
"The Weight of the World" represented a heavyweight scientific challenge to the dominant trends in French politics. Since it was the work of a team of sociologists, it also shows Bourdieu's collaborative character, indicating that he was still in 1993 reluctant to accept being singled out with the category of public intellectual.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
While Pierre Bourdieu was deeply immersed in his academic pursuits, his personal life remains somewhat private. He was married to Marie-Claude Bourdieu, and together they had three children. His familial relationships and the impact of his upbringing were instrumental in shaping the themes prevalent in his work. To the best of public knowledge, Bourdieu's wife played a significant role in supporting his career.
Nevertheless, Bourdieu's activities as a critical sociologist prepared him for the public stage, fulfilling his "constructionist view of social life" as it relied upon the idea of social actors making change through collective struggles.
His relationship with the media was improved through his very public action of organizing strikes and rallies that raised huge media interest in him and his many books became more popular through this new notoriety.
One of the main differences between the critical sociologist and public intellectual is the ability to have a relationship with popular media resources outside the academic realm.
It is notable that, in his later writings, Bourdieu sounded cautionary notes about such individuals, describing them as "like the Trojan Horse" for the unwanted elements they may bring to the academic world.
Again Bourdieu seems wary of accepting the description 'public intellectual', worrying that it might be difficult to reconcile with science and scholarship. Research is needed on what conditions transform particular intellectuals into public intellectuals.
Net Worth and Salary
Before his passing in 2002, Pierre Bourdieu's estimated net worth was around $5 million. This wealth primarily stemmed from his academic career, publications, and international speaking engagements. His work continues to generate interest and sales, ensuring that the financial legacy of his research endures.
He asserts the primacy of social origin and cultural capital by claiming that social capital and economic capital, though acquired cumulatively over time, depend upon it.
Bourdieu claims that "one has to take account of all the characteristics of social condition which are (statistically) associated from earliest childhood with possession of high or low income and which tend to shape tastes adjusted to these conditions."
Career, Business, and Investments
Pierre Bourdieu's career spanned decades, during which he authored numerous influential texts and served as a professor at institutions such as the Collège de France. His research covered a wide array of subjects, from cultural sociology to education and media studies. Bourdieu's academic ventures were bolstered by grants and institutional support enabling extensive field research, giving insights into the complexities of societal structures.
Pierre Bourdieu (, ; ; ; 1 August 1930 – 23 January 2002) was a French sociologist and public intellectual. Bourdieu's contributions to the sociology of education, the theory of sociology, and sociology of aesthetics have achieved wide influence in several related academic fields (e.g.
anthropology, media and cultural studies, education, popular culture, and the arts). During his academic career he was primarily associated with the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences in Paris and the Collège de France.
Social Network
Even posthumously, Bourdieu's presence is felt in numerous academic circles. His theories are actively discussed in sociological conferences and seminars, and his works are taught in universities worldwide. Furthermore, various online platforms and scholarly articles refer to his research, continuing to engage new generations of students and researchers.
Pierre Bourdieu's work emphasized how social classes, especially the ruling and intellectual classes, preserve their social privileges across generations despite the myth that contemporary post-industrial society boasts equality of opportunity and high social mobility, achieved through formal education.
Education
Pierre Bourdieu's academic journey began at the University of Bordeaux, where he studied philosophy. He later attended the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, where he encountered influential thinkers that shaped his sociological perspective. Bourdieu's educational background laid the groundwork for his revolutionary ideas that challenged traditional views in the social sciences.
Bourdieu was educated at the Lycée Louis-Barthou in Pau before moving to the Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris. From there he gained entrance to the École Normale Supérieure (ENS), also in Paris, where he studied philosophy alongside Louis Althusser. After getting his agrégation, Bourdieu worked as a lycée teacher at Moulins for a year before his conscription into the French Army in 1955.
Conclusion
As we look back at Pierre Bourdieu's life and career, it is evident that his contributions continue to reverberate within academic circles and beyond, shaping the discourse in sociology, anthropology, and philosophy. His legacy persists, inspiring future generations to explore and critique the complexities of social and cultural hierarchies.
