Sociology Begins by Disenchanting the World. It Continues by Disenchanting Itself' (gouldner). Discuss.

Sociology begins by disenchanting the world. It continues by disenchanting itself' (Gouldner). Discuss.

"Sociology begins by disenchanting the world, and it proceeds by disenchanting itself" (Gouldner, 1973, p.27) The opening statement made here by Gouldner appears complex at first, yet when broken down and analysed for what it is, becomes simple in its presentation. Disenchanting defined is to free oneself from illusion, such that the statement refers to sociology as removing all illusions and falsities from the world that we know as it is presented to us and then to progress by freeing the doctrine (sociology) from illusionary concepts. In essence, sociology first learns to understand the world, and then can begin to understand itself (sociology). Here, Gouldner is suggesting that social scientists should avoid becoming preoccupied with the ‘word' and concentrate on the ‘world' as an entity, to allow for sociology to find the balance between deconstruction and construction when understanding and explaining (Latour, 1988, p.173).This essay aims to discuss some of the prominent issues within sociologists alongside it's supporters and critique's, and looks at why there are criticisms to its existence and how, if ever, we can come to a understanding of what sociology actually is.

Gouldner assumes that within sociology lie all answers that can be a liberating and enlightening experience. The statement by Gouldner suggests that sociology is a reflexive viewpoint that allows enlightenment perspectives on ones social life (that is within the social world). What appears critical almost from the off, is that at times in his book ‘For Sociology', Gouldner is himself, not always reflexive (Hammersley, 1999). It appears that before we can be constructive in our appraisal of Gouldner's opening statement from his book, we should bear in mind an understanding as to what sociology is actually for. Touraine (1999) even goes as far to ask is sociology is indeed still the study of society or if it has become a wider, broader (and no doubt more complex) method of science that originally intended. We must also note that to be objective, reflexive analysis is to be avoided in the initial stages of sociology research (as to avoid accompanying the search with ‘illusionary' beliefs) and that sociology does not hold the answers for all questions, nor solutions for the magnitude of problems which the world faces. This attention to a reflexive standpoint is important if the underlying values of the scientists are to remain unbiased in their nature.

The social scientist places himself within the domain of his exploration, immediately causing issues in regards to confounding variables and their own social self as part of the science (May, 1999). Gouldner (1970) describes this reflexive sociology as radical sociology. His book recognises that the understanding of the

...