Sociology

SOCIOLOGY Assignment 06/11/2003 (Subject 1) The relationship between Sociological and “common- sense” understanding of the world we live in.

Peter Packroff

Sociology would not exist without common- sense, but common- sense has a life on its own and often seems like if it has never known of Sociology 1.

Sociology as a science

Sociology has had difficulties to get reckoned as a science. The phenomenon is confused and is overlapping particular scientific areas, as illustrated on the front page.

The words and terms used in Sociology are not named after mathematic- or physicscientists who found new formulas or genetic rules of nature. All words and terms used in Sociology Science are formed and shaped by common- sense 2, such as depression, class, suicide, economy.

Though Sociology cannot be directly related to genetic rules, it can help us finding patterns in society and expose the natural behaving of human beings. Or said in another way; patterns that might be seen as determined within the society in, as it has become a part of our “common- sense�.

There are three basic elements that make Sociology reckoned as a science: -

The Sociology subordinates itself to the same rules as other scientific researches.

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There is the size of the field from which the material for sociological thinking is drawn.

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Sociology explains events scientific and not affected by the common- sense (feelings/ political standing points) within a closed sphere. (Though, this

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Quotation by Peter Packroff (1980 - x) See also Thinking Sociology p7

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depends of the research method weather talking of Quantitative or Qualitative research 3).

Sociology as an approach to understanding the world, can be differentiated from other approaches in that it attempts to be scientific, that is to produce empirically warranted and verifiable statements about the social world and is basically distinguished by its distinctive assumptions, concepts, questions, methods and answers. (Cuff et al. 1990: 9)

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The philosopher Soeren Kierkegaard (1855) whom by many is reckoned as the father of the existentialistically movement, has to some point contributed to today’s understanding of the society, inspired of the same Sociology- movement that went across the world at the time. His most famous work Neither/ Or explains how every choice has a consequence - which quote is essential when thinking Sociology.

In common- sense we experience a tendency only to see the things as they are, but not how they became. Sociology is drawing patterns black and white, and to some point explains and gives suggestions to why things have become what they have become, and why we think as we think- A historical research within our consciousness and our life. With a better understanding of the choices we make, the more power we will have to create and shape our life and reach our goals.

So what makes modern Sociology so useful and interesting is, that it is distancing Historical Science. Kirkegaard quoted (directly translated); Life is lived forward, but understood backward. This quote clearly shows how philosophy and history is distancing Sociology, because the field of Sociology is also investigating the very movement.

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Methology and Meanings p12-13 and Sociology. p142- 154 Sociology p9

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Common- sense that makes no sense

The common- sense seems to many as the one and only truth. Though it has been proven that a common- sense often is affected from propaganda, impressions and general topics and issues in the media. In fact it happens all the time 5. And a common- sense toward a given subject can be shaped and familiarized. Even just by walking from mouth to mouth as in the past, before the phenomenon Sociology was even named (Sociology was named by Augusta Comte (1798 – 1857).

By Giddens’ above phenomenon is told to be: the staunchest enemy of inquisitiveness and criticism. 6.

When a society has been familiarized with an opinion it is difficult to change it, even if another true emerge: Racism, discrimination and prejudice are in public often known as being practised by non-selective Ignorant 7. Many sociologists would probably agree as research has often proven that the public has an accurate and sometimes untrue picture concerning particular issues.

To think sociologically can render us more sensitive and tolerant of diversity. It can sharpen our senses and open our eyes to new horizons beyond our immediate experiences in order that we can explore human conditions, which hitherto, have remained relatively invisible… The art of sociological thinking is to widen the scope and the practical effectiveness of freedom. 8

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Seen in an ”Ellulian” (1965) perspective i.e. daily persuasion/ advertising understood as propaganda.

Quoted from Sociology p13. See also Gidden’s Theory of Structuration.

7 (The meaning here are non- taught/read people).

8 Quoted from Thinking Sociology p 11 6

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Questions concerning races apparently contribute to loads of delusions of the common- sense. For example it is most likely that European, and maybe even the Americans themselves, would believe that the blacks represent maybe 30-40% of the total population of the States. Among other things, this elusion might be caused by the impression you get from watching American television, as you will always see blacks represented in every American comics and films in television, because of the politically accuracy. - An accuracy that is good in meaning but draws an unrealistic picture of the society.

The outcome of Sociology

Sociology can help confirming or reject common- senses as mentioned above, as a useful and necessary tool; for example in Politics and Economics when investing money or when taking big decisions, such as changing the law. But again, the common- sense might effect these decisions, even if proven that Sociological research shows another truth of what is chosen to be believed in by the public opinion.

And, any suggestions to political actions will be determined of the public opinion and common- sense. It is the common- sense that affects the politicians, what- and when to take action. In decisions where the common- sense is yet not shaped, it will be the politician’s benefit to shape the common- sense.

The biggest contribution and still the biggest issue of Sociological research so far, is concerning The Social Evil Circle and to what extent we are dependent or how independent we are from the sphere that surrounds us, from the home in which we grew up, and to what extent our identity is shaped by other factors than of our own

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consciousness – (if there is such?)9. - A Sociological philosophy that emerged during the industrial revolution when the world experienced a class- mobility – and opposite, an underclass and inequality ever seen.

Of all the issues raised by sociological theory over the last two centuries, the most basic yet elusive is that of ultimate primacy or determinacy. Are there one or more core, decisive, ultimately determinacy. Are there one or more core, decisive, ultimately determining elements, or keystones, of society? Or are human societies seamless webs spun of endless mulitcausal interactions in which there are no overall patterns? What are the major dimensions of social stratification? What are the most important of social change (Mann 1986)

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?

What was common- sense fifty years ago is far from common- sense today. Commonsense has a limited time-line, the one within our lifetime or, even just the one that has been shaped within the last couple of years.

Years-statistics can show developments and give sociological answers independent of the common- sense that is ruling of the time. Sociology has the possibility also to within draw historical movements, which makes the research method unique.

In Sociological research methods in Context, one of the cases describes how the common- sense’s view of gender has changed. Some biological- inspired sociologists still claim that there are genetic explanations that determine given events.

But in the example above you see how the sense of gender has changed. The example is from 1994, when a new problem emerged.

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See also model by Giddens Stratification model of consciousness and action, in Giddens' Theory of structuration 10 Giddens’ Theory of Structuratation. p152

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It is the benefit of Sociology (and female- sociological researchers) that, to some level, helped improving the conditions of the working-class and to expand the middleclass.

But also lot women into the labour market, got women educated and reduced the inequality of power determined by gender.

In this case, what still is a widespread problem today; many public schools and ground schools do not meet the “nature” of boys (if there is such). Research shows that boys in general cannot sit still, concentrated as long as girls. This has results that girls in average get better marks and generally do better in school. The boys loose confidence (some see this as loosing masculinity) and drop out of school, or do not take any higher education. They even, some argue, get pushed out of labour market.

Nearly everyone we know around here has been unemployed sometime…It’s just terrible, if that’s all you’ve got to look forward to. You can see it with a lot of the boys around here. They’ve just got no future and it’s not their fault. But the teachers are wrong, it’s not the girl’s fault either. (Mac and Ghaill)

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To what extent can we decide our self? Common- sense will often be shaped by micro- structural events, which by Giddens is explained as happenings within a closed or small sphere. - Happenings that we to some extent can master and choose from our self. A happening as the terror attack 9-11 is a macro- structural event that shapes our culture, consciousness and common- sense - Happenings we do not master of our selves.

The view (field) of common- sense is limited, and would maybe see the above gendermovement as micro- structural. Sociological research sees this case in wider 11

Sociological Research Methods in Context p21

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perspective and sees a similar movement all over Europe, USA and the western world.

Sociology becomes Common- sense

Kierkegaar, who claims, that every choice has a consequence, also inspires modern marketing-philosophy. It is a wide spread understanding, that every consumption and every buy shapes our personality - And the action is depended on the choice you made before that. And all consumptions are determined by the common- sense.

This is clearly seen in the clothes fashion that might be the fastest changing commonsense/ understanding in today’s’ society: Once or twice a year our total understanding of clothes (and colour-) fashion twists and change. This in such a mark fully way, that it is becoming common- sense, that the fashion “must” be this and this way to be accepted. In 1998 everybody should wear plateau shoes at least 10cm high. Only 5 years later this is passé. A person would be alienated if he/she did not follow the fashion to some level.

But then you find personalities who will not see them selves as being part of this “all alike” mainstream society, “out-breakers”. As a parallel to today’s’ fashion they shape tomorrows fashion, which has been analysed together with social movements by Sociologists, and then shape a new Common- sense.

When a society has been familiarized with an opinion it is difficult to change it, even if another truth emerge. Sociology, which research- sources today wide spread are financed in corporation with companies (which again affect the confidence toward the science), has been able to shape and confirm the common- sense.

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Sociology is not only useful, but necessary

Sociology has been accused for being just common- sense and not useful. But today’s’ society demands all claims to be scientific proved. Also psychology is closely related to common- sense. But an article in a paper or a published research will not be recognized if it is not scientific proven. It is common- sense that a child will be affected when watching a solder getting his throat cut in a “snuff” authentic executing in Croatia on the Internet. Also that it can affect a child’s behaviour to watch hardcore pornography on the Internet from the age maybe of 8. But it is a fact that also common- sense has to be turned into a science to be considerable, which makes Sociology more important than ever before.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY Title

Essays on the History of British

Writer(s)

Bulmer, Martin

Sociological Research (Cambridge 1st edition)

Giddens’ Theory of Structuration

G.A. Bryant and Jary, David

(The international Library of Sociology 1st edition)

Methodology and Meanings,

Varieties and Sociological Inquiry

V. Zito, George (Praeger Puclishers, Inc 1st edition)

Sociology, Making sense of society.

Marsh and Keeting

(Pearson, 2nd edition)

Sociological Research Methods in Context

Devine, Fiona and Heath, Sue

(Macmillan 1st edition)

Thinking Sociologically

Bauman, Zygmunt and May, Tim

(Backwell Publishing 2nd edition)

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