If we take the field of formal education and drill down to the sub fields of mainstream and alternative education and we move a student from mainstream into alternative education, homology of field suggests this could allow that student an alternative pathway to accumulate capitals valued in the mainstream field. Doesn't this rely of a level of autonomy? And can this be reached?
Steven:
I think this is certainly the case to some extent with the use of technology in education (e.g., u-learning) due to the flexibility wants of digital natives. Perhaps, the attach can inform such autonomy.
Best regards,
Debra
Data Flexible Learning Environments-Theories-Trends-Issues
Steven,
It depends on how you define "autonomous". Education borrows theories and theoretical constructs from sociology, psychology, and socio-psychology, but education also has its unique epistemological identity--theories, methodological approaches, and evaluation standards--that distinguishes itself from other disciplines/fields. So whether a given subfield has its unique epistemological identity might provide a hint to your question.
If you are interested in how a subfield originates, emerges, and evolves, check out Thomas Kuhn's (1962, 2012) book on the Structure of Scientific Revolutions.
Steven,
I'm still trying to answer your questions with Bourdieu's point of view (as much as i know / understand it).
I think a sub field must have all fields criterias, and so you must be right. and i think your example is good. In fact, a field is always in a field. and so, as long as you can define a sub field, it will have field properties. And so it will be autonomous.
For example, in the martial arts world. "martial art" is a field. but "judo" is also a field. and my capital in judo is not based exactly on the same capacities as my "martial art capital". My capital will grow quicker in Judo by practicing this sport, when it will grow quicker by doing different martial arts in the "martial art" field. In the same time, Judo is still an autonomous field, and martial art another one.
Finally I think you are right, and you will be able to show that autonomy. maybe you just shouldn't use the "sub field" term, and just use the term field even if one is inside the other. And thank you for that interesting question.
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