Original scientific paper
Sociology and Ideology
Rade Kalanj
; Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Zagreb
Abstract
Th is paper is an attempt to re-thematise the interrelationship between sociology and ideology. With regards to this, it firstly gives the reasons why such attempt is usually considered to be needless and unnecessary. Secondly, starting with the methodical doubt of such decisive standpoint, reasons are given to show how questioning the stated interrelationship is theoretically relevant and always open. Arguments for this claim are found in theories of ideology formed by Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Norbert Elias and Jürgen Habermas, as well as some other sociological and philosophical thinkers. Relying on these theoretical conceptions, the paper will show the inevitable interplay between science and ideology as an empirical fact of social imagery. Th e proposed thesis is that sociology, even at its strongest scientific confidence, always remains “embraced” by ideology. This can be seen not only in theoretical but, in a certain way, in empirical sociology as well. In relation to this, the paper particularly insists on the terms society and regulation, which have become prey to various ideologically inclined sociological discourses. Ideology is not a mere subject of sociological thought and research. Rather, it is a collection of more or less actualised, more or less dominant, true or false, ideas, that influence its thought and research.
Keywords
society; empiricism; ideology; imaginary; truth; neoliberalism; regulation; theory; science
Hrčak ID:
54108
URI
Publication date:
16.11.2009.
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