Why Should We Think Sociologically about Everyday Life - Essay Example

Why should we think sociologically about everyday life? 7 May There are different ways in which one can think about everyday life. The question to ask ourselves is this: why is it important that we think about everyday life in a sociological way and in what ways does this sociological thinking differ from thinking in other ways? Thus, to explore this question in a systematic way, we shall first define clearly for ourselves, what sociological thinking means. Thereafter, critical arguments will be used to explore what aspects sociological issues cover and what reasons exist for why it is important that we think in that way. According to Bauman (2001), there are characteristics that set sociological thinking apart from other, more commonsense ways of thinking. Sociological thinking questions basic assumptions – it does not take for granted the everyday suppositions that we make; rather, it deconstructs theses assumptions and breaks them down, making them open to debate and differing opinions. Also, such a way of thinking goes beyond just our individual experiences; instead, it tries to explore multiple world views, trying to look at as many different perspectives as possible, respecting and accepting that difference of opinion will always exist. Another difference between sociological thinking and other kinds of thinking are that when trying to explore human behavior, such a way of thinking does not limit itself to individual experience, but instead, looks at societal behavior as a basis for explaining human behavior. Lastly, sociological thinking is structured in such a way that it bases its arguments by backing it up with evidence, rather than making claims that are unsupported by facts. So what are the reasons that make it important for us to think sociologically? What can such a thinking do for us and why is it important? One of the most important reasons for thinking sociologically, as Bauman & May (2001) make clear for us, is its emphasis on de-familiarizing ourselves with what we have come to take as granted. What this does is that it opens us up to differing perspectives, allowing us to think beyond what we have taken to be our reality. “To all those who think that living life in a more conscious way is worth the effort, sociology is a welcome guide” (Bauman & May 2001). Sociological thinking is reflective and perceptive; it encourages us to look at the world in new ways, exploring and understanding issues from multiple perspectives, always accepting the fact that people will hold different opinions, depending on their own individual experiences and social circumstances. It is important to question these taken for granted assumptions; the reason is that such questions increase our knowledge of the world, exploring possibilities that had previously remained shut, and challenging assumptions that claim to be ‘natural’ or ‘correct’. Also, it humbles a person and makes him realize that his view of life is just a single possibility amongst several other contested views; that there is no ‘correct’ or ‘single truth’ that one can identify as the ‘best’. Jacobsen (2003) analyzes the work of Bauman and praises it for its emphasis on breaking down concepts, of considering the fact that there are always two sides to a story; we may be familiar with just one side, but this does not deny the existence of the other side, which we must make an effort to understand. Also, the arbitrariness of concepts is discussed; how sociological thinking makes one appreciate the fact that concepts are based on a particular context and only if the context is taken into consideration can the meaning of the concept be understood. Thus a phrase such as freedom can be looked at from multiple perspectives and angles; it depends on how freedom is defined, whose freedom is being discussed and in relation to what aspect is the phrase freedom being discussed. Jacobsen & Poder (2008) further analyze the theories of Bauman, arguing that Bauman sees sociological thinking as a continuous process, one that is constantly trying to decipher how the world can be made better. Mills (1959) discusses in depth the concept of the sociological imagination; by sociological imagination, he is referring to the ability to see the world through a lens; one that sees connections between private problems that individuals face and societal issues and trends. The problem is that most of the time, personal problems that an individual is facing are not connected with larger forces in society. Sociological imagination would be the ability to shift from thinking about one aspect, to the other, and being able to see that the two of them are woven together; they are not independent concepts but rather are shared. Thus, thinking sociologically has the advantage that it allows one to see the bigger picture, to realize that individual problems are not always a result of individual problems being faced; rather, each individual has a part to play in the way in which society is formed. The example of divorce can be looked at; it is normally perceived as an individual problem, as a tragedy that greatly effects those who are facing it. However, sociological thinking makes one realize that divorce must be seen, not as an individual problem but instead as a phenomenon that is occurring in the broader context of changes occurring in various aspects of society. Such a way of conceptualizing and thinking of the world gives one a more in-depth analysis of the wider system of the running of the world and how things are connected. The common way of normally perceiving such an issue is to view these two aspects, public life and private life, as separate. Mills points out and argues how sociological imagination allows us to see how humans both affect society and are affected by it in turn. Hence, using the theories and arguments of both Bauman and Mills we establish that it is important for us to think sociologically; the reasons provided by both are different, but if we take them together, they formulate to make for very strong arguments in favor of thinking sociologically about everyday life. The best way to establish and understand the validity of this claim is to differentiate sociological thinking from non-sociological thinking; this would make it quite clear what advantages are to be gained from such a thinking; knowledge is gained, our understanding of the world is increased and made more in-depth, we become more consciously aware humans who have developed in-sight and most importantly, we learn to question our taken for granted assumptions about life, accepting the fact that differing perspectives exist. All this would be lost, if sociological thinking is not applied. References Bauman, Zygmunt & May, Tim. (2001). Thinking Sociologically. Oxford: Blackwell. 2nd revision. Jacobsen, Michael Hviid. (2003). Review: [untitled]. Acta Sociologica, Vol. 46, No.1 (Mar., 2003), pp. 83-85. Published by: Sage Publications, Ltd. Jacobsen, Michael Hviid & Poder, Poul. (2008). The Sociology of Zygmunt Bauman. Publisher: Ashgate Mills, C.W. (1959). The Sociological Imagination, Oxford University Press. Read More