Pure Sociology: Subjectivity at Risk?

Sociology began as a scientific discipline in large part by defining itself by what it was NOT, namely, psychology. This means that within sociology there has always been an uncertainty over whether subjective phenomena, including selves, identities, emotions, consciousness, feelings, or experience,...

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Publicado en:Academicus no. 31; pp. 13 - 44
Autor principal: Chriss, James J.
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Academicus 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        10.7336/academicus.2025.31.02
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        atl: Pure Sociology: Subjectivity at Risk?
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        au: Chriss, James J.
        affil: Cleveland State University, USA
      su:
        Social theory
        Scientific observation
        Humanism
        Consciousness
        Sociologists
      sug:
        subj:
          Social theory
          Scientific observation
          Humanism
          Consciousness
          Sociologists
      keyword:
        antihumanism
        Donald Black
        objectivity
        positivism
        pure sociology
        sociological theory
        Stephen Fuchs
        subjectivity
      ab: Sociology began as a scientific discipline in large part by defining itself by what it was NOT, namely, psychology. This means that within sociology there has always been an uncertainty over whether subjective phenomena, including selves, identities, emotions, consciousness, feelings, or experience, are topics worthy of scientific analysis and observation within the discipline. Some argue that psychology is vital to doing sociology (as an accepted or foundational "first principle"), while others reject it because it falls outside the scope of sociological concerns. In this paper I analyze antisubjectivism in sociology in the form of Donald Black's "pure sociology," as well as the antihumanist network theory of Stephan Fuchs. I conclude by suggesting that if sociologists are serious about achieving their long sought after but elusive "science of society," then the sort of antisubjectivism, antihumanism, and antiessentialism being propounded by Black, Fuchs, and others should receive serious consideration in current and future sociological work.
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    language: English
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