Sociology and its social settings
Sociology, while informing us of our social settings, is further derived from the same settings:
All intellectual fields are profoundly shaped by their social settings. This is particularly true of sociology which is not only derived from that setting but takes the social setting as its basic subject matter” (Ritzer 1992: 6)
Sociological thought, like all thought, should be located within its social context. Sociological perspectives not only attempt to account for social change, but are themselves influenced or shaped by their own relevant social context. We can observe this when we will look at how sociology, as a discipline, came to be influenced by the processes forming ‘modernity’. For example, theories originating within the classical period of sociology, often viewed sociology as a scientific discipline concerned with the scientific study of observable social patterns making up social life. This can be seen in Durkheim’s theorising of a ’science of society’ or Engels describing Marx’s socio-political-economic theory as ’scientific socialism’. In all of this we can observe the imprints of the social processes, that made up ‘modernity’, affecting theories that initially came about to understand these very same processes. This will be a theme we will continuously return to.
Furthermore by placing these differing perspectives, in their respective social context, it would negate that one is absolutely correct, each provide their respective insights, and are further developed as many perspectives go through further refinement and adaptation. Hence we have Functionalism and Marxism; and similarly Neo-Functionalism and Neo-Marxism. By affirming the relationism of these perspectives, as Karl Mannheim noted, we can see how each perspective is located in its social milieu, and hence open to further development, Karl Mannheim calls this conception a ‘dynamic synthesis’.
This is not an argument for ‘anything goes’ relativism but an appreciation that perspectives that account for social change or ‘progress’ are themselves laden, often with their own presuppositions, which can be influenced by greater social forces. Nevertheless certain perspectives may give a more nuanced understanding of the social; it is the task of a sociologist to reach their own informed decision on which perspective is more appropriate and for what reasons. Hence theory may provide insight on the social but does not necessarily capture the social as it is. Objectivity in sociology is sought but not a given.
But what is sociological thinking?
Is there a common factor gathering these many perspectives? Sociological perspectives, with their own differing contestations, seek in their own way to account for how the social is transformed or reproduced. For example, what are the processes that underpin major social breaks that brought about the ‘enlightenment’ and later ‘modernity’? It is useful to first note that sociology is a commentary on everyday living, from the mundane, those aspects that go unnoticed (much of the social is reproduced in these moments), to greater social upheavals. The sociologist is often attempting to link these two seemingly paradoxical observations – i.e. it is us that bring about any given social condition, yet at the same time, they can come back and constrain and condition our very own acts. What was produced by human will then take a life of its own. Sociological thinking provides insight into these often complex processes.
As we can see sociology is not just concerned with what is termed as negative social phenomena or what maybe labelled as going ‘wrong’ in any given society. Sociology concerns itself with the social — what makes it possible? How do we explain regular patterns and reciprocated relations. Hence as Berger states:
The sociological problem is not so much why some things ‘go wrong’ from the viewpoint of the authorities and the management of a social scene, but how the system works in the first place … the fundamental sociological problem is not crime but the law, not divorce but marriage, not racial discrimination but racially-defined stratification, not revolution but government
Sociology is hence about social relations — what makes them tick.
Sociology is an extended commentary on the experiences that arise in social relations and is an interpretation of those experiences in relation to others and the social conditions in which people find themselves. (Bauman & May 2001: 180)
By informing us about the social conditions that bring about patterned social relations, sociology is in a position to further provide insights on how to think about solutions to ’social problems’. It should be noted that to define a ’social problem’ is to accept a given normative vision, to label a phenomenon as a ’social problem’ is to give a negative judgement. There is a strand within social theory – known as ‘critical social theory – that is explicit in its: a) Pre-suppositions; and b) that it starts from such pre-suppositions to provide a critical stance towards the social reality it investigates. We shall be returning to the theme of critical social theory. As stated before, sociological theory not only explains and informs us of the social world, it often has, implicitly or explicitly, underpinnings and pre-suppositions. Sociology is very much a contested discipline.
Interesting reads:
Introduction to “Thinking Sociologically” by Tim May & Zygmunt Bauman
0 Responses to “Introduction: What do we mean by thinking sociologically?”