Iztapalapa (Nov 1999)
The End of the Century, Apocalypse, Pessimism and Uncertainty: Thoughts on the Discipline and Profession of Sociology
Abstract
The great transformations of society and the crumbling of theoretical hegemonies are forcing different disciplines to review their structure, their meaning as a discipline, the goals of their studies, the different paradigms converging in each of them, the diverse methods that are or can be applied, the validity of their research procedures and the form in which they acquire their knowledge, among many other aspects dealing with social and human disciplines. These ideas are not new to sociology. However, in today’s discussion on the theory and practice of sociology, there is a new element of radicalism. Today’s discussion on the function of sociology and the status of the discipline itself is turning into a discussion on the basis and validity of sociology itself. The reflections upon the work of sociologists at present and in future must reconstruct its relationship with other disciplines, as well as its role within science en general.
