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The Sociological Imagination: Difference between revisions





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{ irrespective of its historical and contextual nature without observation.
{{Cleanup|date=December 2008}}
{{infobox Book |
| name = The Sociological Imagination
| orig title =
| translator =
| image =
| author = C. Wright Mills
| cover_artist =
| country =
| language =
| series =
| genre =
| publisher = Oxford University Press
| release_date = 1959
| media_type =
| pages = 256
| isbn = 0195133730
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
}}
 
'''''The Sociological Imagination''''' (ISBN 0195133730) was a book written by [[C. Wright Mills]] in 1959. A 1997 survey of members of the [[International Sociological Association]] which asked them to identify the ten books published in the 20th century which they considered to be the most influential for sociologists, they ranked The Sociological Imagination second, preceded only by [[Max Weber]]'s Economy and Society<ref>http://www.isa-sociology.org/books/books10.htm</ref>.
This highly acclaimed classic work states Mills's views for how social science should be pursued. A somewhat abrasive critique, ''The Sociological Imagination'' took issue with American sociology, particularly that which flourished in prestigious sociology departments. Mills longed for a more human sociology that linked the social, personal, and historical dimensions of everyday life. The sociological imagination Mills had in mind was a new way of seeing the world that recognized links between widespread societal issues and the private problems of the individual.
In his work the Sociological imagination C. Wright Mills believed he was trying to solve the problems of the current sociological discourse.
 
He saw the problem of sociology as that of reconciling the [[Social environment|milieu]] with the wider social and historical discourse. In this he can be seen by sociologists as challenging the structuralist functionalist discourse. He also noted the danger of malaise which came with the creation of modern societies and the questioning of individuals in terms of their existence. (Mills, 1959, 7-12)
 
So in writing the “Sociological imagination” was trying to reconcile two varying natures of social reality and was seen as trying to challenge the discipline.
 
He outlined this in criticisms of current sociology namely his critiques of what he refers to as grand theory and abstracted empiricism.
 
==Grand Theory==
 
In chapter two of his work he can be seen to be criticizing Parsonian sociology. In this he can be seen to address directly the “Social System” written by [[Talcott Parsons]].
 
In his work the ''Social System'' Parsons describes the nature of the structure of society and the creation and maintenance of a culture through the socialization of individuals. Mills criticizes this tendency in sociology on several grounds. He argues for a more heterogeneous form of society in that he challenges the nature to which a single uniformity of society is indeed possible. (Mills, 1959, 26-30)
 
===Social order===
 
In his work he can be seen to criticize social order and its Parsonian formulation. That social order can indeed be seen as a whole comes under criticism by Mills.
 
He writes that every individual cannot simply be fully integrated into society and internalize all its cultural forms fully in terms of society. Furthermore, such domination may be seen as a further extension of power and social stratification.
 
Brewer (2004) sees such a work as the Sociological imagination as an extension of Mills other works into power and social stratification i.e. ''The Power Elite'' and ''White Collar''.
That according to Mills what grand theorists call ''Value orientation'' could in actuality be a form of domination and thereby may simply be a form of legitimation. (Mills, 1959, 33-36)
 
===Role of social theory===
 
He further criticizes Parsonian sociology on its ability to theorize as a form of pure abstraction that society can be understood irrespective of its historical and contextual nature without observation.
 
That he argues that society and its cultural symbols cannot be seen as self-determining and cannot be derived without reference to individuals and their consciousness. All power according to Parsons is based on a system of beliefs enforced by society, writes Mills. In this he criticizes Parsons for his view in terms of historical and social change and diversity. (Mills, 1959, 40-46)

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