What Mills calls the sociological imagination is a sharpened version of what Lemert calls social competence. While we may all be endowed with this social competence—the ability to learn the rules, structure, and organization of our social world—the ability to analyze complex social situations and think through intricate social problems requires practice. I believe that social theory provides us with the necessary tools to develop the sociological imagination. According to Lemert (1993), social theory is a “basic survival skill,” yet students might often view social theory as out-of-date, arcane, and ultimately needless information. Nothing could be further from the truth—social theory provides a foundation from which to view our social world, providing explanations, posing unique questions, and challenging us to see the world from a variety of perspectives. Additionally, early social theorists were reform-minded. They were people wanting to change the world in profound ways by providing compelling solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. Therefore, I argue that social theory is a necessary tool for the formulation of a complete sociological imagination (Mills).
The sociological imagination might best be defined as the ability to see the connection between the individual and society. Specifically, Mills suggests that “the sociological imagination enables its possessor to understand the larger historical scene in terms of its meaning for the inner life and the external career of a variety of individuals” (2). Ultimately what this means is that the sociological imagination is a skill practiced by individuals able to locate themselves within a larger historical, social, and cultural milieu such that they can see both the impact the have on that environment and the impact that environment has on them.
Social theory is designed to help explain social processes. While theorists may tackle very different problems, the basic structure of social theory includes a set of logically interrelated arguments that attempt to explain empirical (real observable) phenomena in more abstract and general terms (see Allan). Theory is often based on assumptions, perspectives, and ideological concepts, however, social theory remains rooted in explaining things that happen to us in our everyday lives. In particular, social theory (and a well-developed sociological imagination) helps us ask three kinds of questions—what is the structure of our society; where does our society stand in relationship to the rest of human history; and what varieties of men and women now exist in society (see Mills)?
These questions and others cannot be answered by someone endowed only with a social competence. Sure we might know that standing in line is polite or that when we get on an elevator that we should face the door and not other people, but without a sociological imagination we may fail to ask the more compelling questions that could provide solutions to our most pressing social problems. What will Obama’s legacy be and how might race impact his re-election campaign? What implications does Obama’s presidency have on the possibility of a woman winning the presidential election?
Social theory is more than a basic survival skill as Lemert suggests. Social theory is a necessary component of a sociological imagination that just might be able to change the world. Therefore, a well-developed sociological imagination just might be the most important skill you learn in this class.
The sociological imagination might best be defined as the ability to see the connection between the individual and society. Specifically, Mills suggests that “the sociological imagination enables its possessor to understand the larger historical scene in terms of its meaning for the inner life and the external career of a variety of individuals” (2). Ultimately what this means is that the sociological imagination is a skill practiced by individuals able to locate themselves within a larger historical, social, and cultural milieu such that they can see both the impact the have on that environment and the impact that environment has on them.
Social theory is designed to help explain social processes. While theorists may tackle very different problems, the basic structure of social theory includes a set of logically interrelated arguments that attempt to explain empirical (real observable) phenomena in more abstract and general terms (see Allan). Theory is often based on assumptions, perspectives, and ideological concepts, however, social theory remains rooted in explaining things that happen to us in our everyday lives. In particular, social theory (and a well-developed sociological imagination) helps us ask three kinds of questions—what is the structure of our society; where does our society stand in relationship to the rest of human history; and what varieties of men and women now exist in society (see Mills)?
These questions and others cannot be answered by someone endowed only with a social competence. Sure we might know that standing in line is polite or that when we get on an elevator that we should face the door and not other people, but without a sociological imagination we may fail to ask the more compelling questions that could provide solutions to our most pressing social problems. What will Obama’s legacy be and how might race impact his re-election campaign? What implications does Obama’s presidency have on the possibility of a woman winning the presidential election?
Social theory is more than a basic survival skill as Lemert suggests. Social theory is a necessary component of a sociological imagination that just might be able to change the world. Therefore, a well-developed sociological imagination just might be the most important skill you learn in this class.