Sociological Theories

1. In chapter 1 (“The Promise”) of The Sociological Imagination, C. Wright Mills spoke of the sociological importance of understanding the relationship between biography —who we are— and history —our society's past and the times that we live in. Explain why this relationship is sociologically important. Use Charles Lemert as an example.



Sociological imagination is a sociological term coined by the American sociologist C. Wright Mills in 1959 describing the ability to connect seemingly impersonal and remote historical forces to the incidents of an individual's life. It suggests that people look at their own personal problems as social issues and, in general, try to connect their own individual experiences with the workings of society. The sociological imagination enables people to distinguish between personal troubles and public issues. For example, people in poverty by this perspective might stop to consider that they are not alone, and rather than blaming themselves should criticise the social forces that directed them into their present condition. There are three key questions that constitute the core of Mills' sociological imagination.

Social work and social policy are now well-established academic subjects. In addition to applying sophisticated research methodologies, both are making far more use of theory than ever before. However, in the early days, the founders of social work and social policy were suspicious of theory. Many embraced the positivist view that social welfare institutions could best be analyzed through observation and scientific verification. Pragmatism reinforced this perspective and theoretical speculation was generally disdained. Although social work and social policy scholarship was historically characterized by an anti-theoretical stance, the situation is very different today and a wide range of theoretical perspectives now inform social work and social policy research. Psychological and sociological theories are now widely used, and there is far more familiarity with political economy and major normative social science perspectives.

Charles Lemert's book should be regarded as a major resource for social work and social policy students and scholars. Focusing primarily on social theories, the book presents an extremely comprehensive collection of excerpts from the writings of leading contributors to social theory since the mid-19th century. As suggested earlier, Lemert's collection should be viewed as a source book rather than a basic text. Its major strengths is its comprehensiveness and the way the editor presents short but representative selections that will appeal to students. Many students, and indeed many educators, do not have the time or inclination to plow through heavy theoretical tomes and many rely on secondary sources when seeking to understand theoretical writing. Lemert's collection makes original writings accessible and manageable. This is a valuable book which should be extensively used in social work and social policy classes.

2.Use the concepts of conflict and consensus to show how the three classical giants —Marx, Durkheim, and Weber— understood modernity and its consequences? Use Lemert and Zeitlin (Enlightenment and Romantic-Conservative Reaction) for each giant.

In a letter of 1675 the scientist Isaac Newton wrote: “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” The point ...