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International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Book | Chapter

213081

Sociology and the sociological imagination

reflections on, disciplinarity and intellectual specialisation

John Scott

pp. 14-30

Abstract

Sociology always used to be described, unproblematically, as the science of society.1 Many sociologists have expressed self-doubts about the appropriateness of designating their discipline as a 'science", and increasing numbers have begun to express similar concerns about describing their subject matter as 'society". While disputes over the scientific character of sociological method have largely been resolved through the use of alternative words (such as discipline, study) or through circumlocution – simple avoidance of the disputed word – rejection of the word 'society" seems to point to something deeper, to issues that lie at the very heart of the discipline.

Publication details

Published in:

Burnett Judith, Jeffers Syd, Thomas Graham (2010) New social connections: sociology's subjects and objects. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.

Pages: 14-30

DOI: 10.1057/9780230274877_2

Full citation:

Scott John (2010) „Sociology and the sociological imagination: reflections on, disciplinarity and intellectual specialisation“, In: J. Burnett, S. Jeffers & G. Thomas (eds.), New social connections, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 14–30.