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The pleasures of learning at work : Foucault and phenomenology compared
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Hughes, Christina (2007) The pleasures of learning at work : Foucault and phenomenology compared. British Journal of Sociology of Education, Vol.28 (No.3). pp. 363-376. doi:10.1080/01425690701253430 ISSN 0142-5692.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01425690701253430
Abstract
This paper provides a comparative account of two conceptualisations of pleasure. The first draws on Foucault's analysis of bio-power. The second provides a phenomenological account where pleasure is viewed as an aspect of our immediate consciousness. These conceptualizations are illuminated through an analysis of employees’ accounts of learning at work. Overall, the paper demonstrates how, in a Foucauldian analysis, pleasure disappears as it becomes a cipher for power whereas within the phenomenological account pleasure is foregrounded but power disappears. The concluding section focuses on the problems of both conceptualizations and explores whether we should simply accept that different analytical frameworks do different work for us or whether we should be more concerned at the losses, and gains, associated with theoretical choices. The conclusion further asks whether a concern to foreground pleasure in accounts of learning represents an antidote to the pessimism of much critical analysis or whether we should treat pleasure as a morally duplicitous category that encourages political apathy.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
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Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) H Social Sciences > HM Sociology |
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Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Sociology | ||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Pleasure -- Social aspects, Consciousness, Foucault, Michel, 1926-1984 -- Contributions in sociology, Vocational education | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | British Journal of Sociology of Education | ||||
Publisher: | Taylor and Francis | ||||
ISSN: | 0142-5692 | ||||
Official Date: | May 2007 | ||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | Vol.28 | ||||
Number: | No.3 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 363-376 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1080/01425690701253430 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | ||||
Description: | Final version (as published) |
Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge
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