The sociological imagination is one of the classic statements about the sociological perspective that comes from C. Wright Mills. He simply describes it as a quality of mind that all social analysts seem to possess and “…that allows us to understand the relationship between our individual circumstances and larger social forces” (Ferris and Stein 12). By this, he means “the intersection between biography and history” (Ferris and Stein 13). The difference between sociological thought, and thought which falls upon imagination; according to Mills, it is not enough to professors of sociology, it is the training that all must attempt (Fisher, “What Would Make the Best Society?”). Mills claimed that people-based research has come to be guided more
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To satisfy the promise of social science, it needs people to focus on fundamental problems and relate to these problems to structural and historical features of the sociocultural system. These features have significance to people because they greatly affect a person’s character, values, and behavior. Since the word utopia comes from the Greek language, it defines a place that people can only dream about, which would be a true paradise and a perfect society. Microsociology allows the analysis to study small group collaborations, but can fail to cogitate the larger forces that impact individual 's behavior. Macrosociology allows observation of large-scale social structures to regulate how they impact the lives of clusters and entities. A social norm means “a rule or guideline regarding what kinds of behavior are acceptable and appropriate within a culture” (Ferris and Stein …show more content…
The term utopia was originally a description of a social environment, and has established in many ways. As society becomes more diverse, the likelihood of agreeing on one plan for a whole nation or the whole world becomes even more distant. And in any case, we cannot possibly foresee the changes that progress will bring. Utopian plans always involve a still and inflexible vision of the ideal community. We can no more imagine what civilization will be like a century from now than the people in the 1900s could have imagined today’s civilization. What we need is not utopia, but a free society in which people can design their own communities. Individuals could come together to form communities in which they would agree to accept by certain rules. Since people would individually and voluntarily agree to such rules, they would not be giving up their rights. One community might provide a high level of services and amenities, with congruently high prices and fees. Another may be more austere, for those who favor to save their money. One might be organized around a particular religious’ observance. Those who entered one community might reject alcohol and tobacco. Other people might prefer cars, guns, and hard drugs banned. We can create a society based on individual freedom and characterized by peace, tolerance, community, prosperity, responsibility, and progress; therefore, everyone would have the same opportunities.
To satisfy the promise of social science, it needs people to focus on fundamental problems and relate to these problems to structural and historical features of the sociocultural system. These features have significance to people because they greatly affect a person’s character, values, and behavior. Since the word utopia comes from the Greek language, it defines a place that people can only dream about, which would be a true paradise and a perfect society. Microsociology allows the analysis to study small group collaborations, but can fail to cogitate the larger forces that impact individual 's behavior. Macrosociology allows observation of large-scale social structures to regulate how they impact the lives of clusters and entities. A social norm means “a rule or guideline regarding what kinds of behavior are acceptable and appropriate within a culture” (Ferris and Stein …show more content…
The term utopia was originally a description of a social environment, and has established in many ways. As society becomes more diverse, the likelihood of agreeing on one plan for a whole nation or the whole world becomes even more distant. And in any case, we cannot possibly foresee the changes that progress will bring. Utopian plans always involve a still and inflexible vision of the ideal community. We can no more imagine what civilization will be like a century from now than the people in the 1900s could have imagined today’s civilization. What we need is not utopia, but a free society in which people can design their own communities. Individuals could come together to form communities in which they would agree to accept by certain rules. Since people would individually and voluntarily agree to such rules, they would not be giving up their rights. One community might provide a high level of services and amenities, with congruently high prices and fees. Another may be more austere, for those who favor to save their money. One might be organized around a particular religious’ observance. Those who entered one community might reject alcohol and tobacco. Other people might prefer cars, guns, and hard drugs banned. We can create a society based on individual freedom and characterized by peace, tolerance, community, prosperity, responsibility, and progress; therefore, everyone would have the same opportunities.