French Literature Reviews - 2026
A. Caillé, Gift, Interest and Disinterestedness. Bourdieu, Mauss, Plato and Some Others
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas
Gift, Interest and Disinterestedness - Bourdieu, Mauss, Plato and Some Others
Alain Caillé
PUBLICATION DATE: 15/03/14 PUBLISHER: Bord de l'eau (Le) COLLECTION: La bibliothèque du MAUSS ISBN: 978-2-35687-247-0 EAN: 9782356872470 FORMAT: Paperback NO. OF PAGES: 262 p.
As modern men and women, we find ourselves torn between two sets of entirely irreconcilable certainties and demands. On the one hand, our era insistently pushes us to believe that nothing escapes the almighty law of self-interest, and that we must adapt by becoming shrewd "calculators." On the other hand, we all aspire to break free from this logic in order to finally attain that complete generosity—that pure and unadulterated gift—which the religious tradition we stem from enjoins us to seek.
Yet this is an impossible task, retorts the first belief system, according to which nothing escapes calculation, implying that any form of generosity or gift-giving is inherently deceitful. For Alain Caillé, the question is poorly framed. By examining what he terms the "axiom of self-interest" through two of its greatest proponents (Plato, P. Bourdieu), and conversely analyzing how the gift has been characterized by an impossible and inaccessible purity (J.
Derrida), he reveals the deep underlying connection uniting both poles of the modern mind. He urges us, following in the footsteps of Marcel Mauss and his Essay on the Gift, to pursue a more harmonious and reasonable conception of gift-giving. Indeed, nothing could be more urgent if we wish to understand our times, both scientifically and morally, equidistant from cynicism and idealism.
Alain Caillé situates his inquiry within the intellectual tradition of the Mouvement anti-utilitariste dans les sciences sociales (MAUSS), which challenges the hegemony of utilitarianism and economic calculation in human affairs. By revisiting foundational texts and thinkers, the author questions the pervasive assumption that all social actions are reducible to self-interest. The volume connects classical philosophy with contemporary sociological debates, offering a critical lens on how modern societies conceptualize altruism, obligation and exchange.
This accessible yet rigorous study serves scholars, students and general readers interested in sociology, philosophy and moral theory. It proves particularly valuable for those seeking to navigate the tension between cynical economic realism and unattainable moral idealism. By reevaluating Marcel Mauss alongside critics and proponents of the utility axiom, the work provides essential intellectual tools for understanding the ethical and scientific dilemmas of contemporary social life.