Sociology: Personal Reflection and Critique
Contents
- The controversy of classics and Founders
- The effects of Postmodernism and Contextualization on the Canon and the Classics
- The Sociological Standard
- The Central Message of the Southern Debate
The controversy of classics and Founders
Social theorists nowadays are more interested with identifying the origins and structure of their field by evaluating its supposedly founding thinkers, classical works, and canonical declarations. This is in addition to trying to control or encourage the development of their discipline. Perpetual returns to the origins of social thought are not always motivated by professional self-interest or a need for scientific legitimacy, despite the possibility that one could argue that the functional necessity for classics develops due to the need for integrating the field of theoretical discourse.
The definition and boundaries of the tradition continue to be hotly debated due to the fact that theorists are not always in agreement regarding which authors have had the greatest influence, which works are the most significant to their respective disciplines, or which concepts or statements are the most widely read, ritually revered, or frequently cited. One thing to keep in mind is that, in Peter Baehr's words, "identifying and elucidating the key figures and concepts that have contributed to the formation of social theory does not suffice without simultaneously addressing the intellectual networks, modes of textual transmission, and processes of inclusion and exclusion that have made theory a recognisable and definable discipline."
The effects of Postmodernism and Contextualization on the Canon and the Classics
Chaos, subjectivism, and relativism have been described as characteristics of the beginning of postmodernism. Traditional metaphysics are questioned in the discipline of philosophy during the postmodern age. The emphasis has shifted away from the supernatural, and all moral absolutes have been abandoned. Even traditional sociology came under fire. Contextual sociologies become more popular as a result. A unified classical canon as a whole was not accorded much weight. This places a strong emphasis on context. Sociologists from many continents focused on the topics that were important to their respective communities and environments. Since then, the canonical sociologists, the classics, and the founding fathers have received less attention. However, even with this method, we can see that sociologists all over the world still hold those who are regarded as classics and those who laid the groundwork in high regard. They were individuals from their own era who held unique social perspectives. One thing I would like to point out is that, based on my research, I have concluded that, in contrast to the Christian Scriptures, which stand close, the sociological canon is an open canon.
The Sociological Standard
According to Sprague Joey, a professor of sociology at the University of Kansas, canons serve as valuable, all-encompassing knowledge and serve to reflect societal norms. Changing societal perceptions and being able to demonstrate that these new perceptions are valid are also necessary for altering the canon. Once a canon has been constructed, dismantling it is a difficult undertaking. In sociology, this constraint is unavoidable. We now witness a fight for equality, but at the same time, we recognise that sociological analysis may have been polluted by a narrow lens making it harder to be critical. Certain people have been branded and canonised as major players in mainstream sociology. Not without making comparisons.
Sociologists should be prepared to go global and eliminate pointless criticism and comparison if they are to actually use sociology to improve the world. Simply studying sociology's canon is insufficient. Sociologists must develop the ability to view the various problems that plague every environment from a wider angle. It is important to not view the canon's members as the sole acceptable examples. It is important to remember that these founders were operating within a certain environment, and that new cultures and ideologies have emerged as a result of shifting cultural norms.
The Central Message of the Southern Debate
Extremist tendencies can arise from placing an excessive focus on acknowledging the southern perspective. Recognizing how Eurocentrism has impacted history and the triumph of social theory over criticism may lead to the sociological Africanization of knowledge, the establishment of an Islamized knowledge-based approach to sociology in Muslim Asia, or the assertion of a distinct strand and position in Latin America. Putting the southern hypothesis in the proper context would be helpful.
To sum up and make my point clear, I'll quote Wiebke Keim, who claims that the Southern theory or perspective is a strong argument for a serious international discussion on an equal footing, where the experiences and perspectives emerging from the South must be fully acknowledged and may correct, complete, amplify, or supplement existing general theory. 26 This leads us to conclude that the southerners are pressuring the northerners to acknowledge that sociology has been dominated in the past. Therefore, the moment has come for equality to prevail, and the International Sociology Association is proof that the change-making drums have begun to beat. It is important to recognise how distinctive each setting and location is.
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