Axiological Grammar and the Sociology of Values

Abstract

The article offers some thoughts on Nathalie Heinich’s book, Des valeurs ( Values), and its proposal of an axiological grammar. Three main issues are addressed. First, the article revisits the issue of axiological neutrality and the interest of this posture in terms of knowledge. The article then questions the need to open the sociology of values to a sociology concerned with certain historical dimensions, particularly with regard to the attachments of actors. Finally, it compares how the sociology of values and the strategic analysis of decision-making study evaluation processes.