In Charles Lemert “Society theory: Its Uses and Pleasures,” He has many different theories and ideas in his article which explains social theory. Social Theory, in Lemert words is a “normal accomplishment of socially adept human creatures figuring out what other creatures of the same sort are doing with, to, or around them” (2). I can say that I like his social theory definition because he back up his idea of social theory by explaining that people, not just educated professors, like to question the world’s norms, rules and laws and understand that society is somehow related to individuals and institutions at the same time. Yet, Lemert does bring up that some people, not all people; view the world in a social theory view point. In the article, as I brought up earlier, it said, “ Social theory, Bradley might suggest, is about the mundane and the concealed- those hidden aspects of social life sometimes encounter in the ordinary course of daily life. We don’t always see them, thus we aren’t always in a position to speak of them” (2). As it gives out its list of why people might not always want to see that social connection, the third reason, I had to agree. “People need time and experience to learn how to put into words the reality they live with (but not everyone has the time to do this) (2)” Lemert said, “social theory is a basic survival skill” But why? Well, I can see that it’s a new insight at looking at society impacts people’s lives, groups of people and how it’s all “secretly” connected. I always felt people had a social imagination but I guess not a lot of people never gave it much thought, myself included. So, now that I see that not all people but some people are enlightened by social imagination, there was something in the article that made me wonder about something but before I jump ahead, let me first explain Allen’s modern society idea.
In Allen’s article called, “Sociology, Theory, and the Modern Agenda” he talked about traditional to modern societies. He went on to explain that in traditional societies, people were not in control, and the group who was in control were groups like government or religion. They were mostly in control of all ideas of how society worked. Basically, if it wasn’t for social theories, people would still be stuck in the traditional society till this day. Yet, the world had so many revolutions, people got out of the traditional view of the world and into the modern world which is how science came to life. So, in Lemert article, I read that people who are encouraged to be open minded and want to change how society was and help civilization move forward. “Modern life, in contrast to the traditional, did seem to encourage critical thinking. This was, in effect, the main point of the enlightenment-that, in Immanuel Kant’s famous definition, modern, enlightened people would “dare to know.” Daring to know and daring to use that knowledge are attitudes towards life and the world that could only arise among people willing to break with tradition, thereby looking to new, future possibilities” (6). So, this is why I am bring this enlightenment/modern society idea up, I think of all the great changes in history especially in the United States. These great changes were things like the revolutions or law changes that effects people which in the end affect humanity as a whole. Then I thought of the people who were behind these great changes like Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Etc. These people must have had the enlightenment or social imagination because they saw the issues in their own government/country and decided to moderate society right? So, what’s my point? Throughout history, American had their share of changes but here is my question is, “When will the next modern society come? Who will be our next leader? I feel as though, our modern society isn’t modern anymore and Allan brought up the same thing similar in his article called “Sociology, Theory, and the Modern Agenda” he said “Some argue that we are no longer modern, others that we never were, and still others that we are living in some different form of modernity, .. “ (4). I believe it’s time for a rebellion and/or revolution in our country again. Am I wrong? Doesn’t this country need change? What do you think?
In Allen’s article called, “Sociology, Theory, and the Modern Agenda” he talked about traditional to modern societies. He went on to explain that in traditional societies, people were not in control, and the group who was in control were groups like government or religion. They were mostly in control of all ideas of how society worked. Basically, if it wasn’t for social theories, people would still be stuck in the traditional society till this day. Yet, the world had so many revolutions, people got out of the traditional view of the world and into the modern world which is how science came to life. So, in Lemert article, I read that people who are encouraged to be open minded and want to change how society was and help civilization move forward. “Modern life, in contrast to the traditional, did seem to encourage critical thinking. This was, in effect, the main point of the enlightenment-that, in Immanuel Kant’s famous definition, modern, enlightened people would “dare to know.” Daring to know and daring to use that knowledge are attitudes towards life and the world that could only arise among people willing to break with tradition, thereby looking to new, future possibilities” (6). So, this is why I am bring this enlightenment/modern society idea up, I think of all the great changes in history especially in the United States. These great changes were things like the revolutions or law changes that effects people which in the end affect humanity as a whole. Then I thought of the people who were behind these great changes like Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Etc. These people must have had the enlightenment or social imagination because they saw the issues in their own government/country and decided to moderate society right? So, what’s my point? Throughout history, American had their share of changes but here is my question is, “When will the next modern society come? Who will be our next leader? I feel as though, our modern society isn’t modern anymore and Allan brought up the same thing similar in his article called “Sociology, Theory, and the Modern Agenda” he said “Some argue that we are no longer modern, others that we never were, and still others that we are living in some different form of modernity, .. “ (4). I believe it’s time for a rebellion and/or revolution in our country again. Am I wrong? Doesn’t this country need change? What do you think?