Collective subjectivities and the practical-hermeneutical provinces of social life

Abstract

This article articulates an alternative, based on the theory of collective subjectivity, to some of the most current conceptual perspectives dealing with specific social systems in the highly differentiated and complex social formations of modernity. Instead of the concepts of “field” or “spheres”, but partly recognizing their relevance, the article proposes the conception of collective subjectivities as practical-hermeneutical provinces that cut cross the whole of social life. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed conceptualization and elaborate it in detail, the text focuses on the political dimension of modernity, with emphasis on the political system (both state and societal) and the state in general, with a brief foray into the provinces of “culture” and art.

Keywords: Collective subjectivity; Practical-hermeneutic provinces; Fields; Value spheres