Review article

The State of Sociology in the World Today

Rudi Supek ; Filozofski fakultet, Zagreb

Abstract

In this paper an attempt is made to give a systematic picture of the state of sociology today, A starting point is that it is today in expansion, on the one hand, and actually in crisis, on the other. The expansion is related to the fact that sociology has become a practical and applied discipline which is used in an ever greater number of social areas. This, of course, results in a numerical expansion of sociologists and in diversification of places where they can work. On the other hand, the crisis is related to theoretical concepts which refer to global social development. Therefore, it has gone off in breadth but not likewise in depth.
The major theoretical orientations are in crisis. Functionalism is »criticized« and loses its integrations role and, on the other hand, its integrationists aspects becomes an integral part of »positivist Marxism«. And, within Marxism itself, there is a separation into this positivist Marxism (Stalinism) and creative Marxism. However, this differentiation did not occur on the basis of a fruitful theoretical discussion but precisely the reverse is the case; namely, discussion is avoided. »Diplomatic« criteria are all the more introduced in discussion of Marxist functionalism, so there is no discussion. Within countries where Marxism by its nature is a matter of official theory, prohibitions and anathemas often serve in place of discussion.
In this regard, one is reminded at the end that a basic principle of sociology is truth and that no sort of »diplomatic« criteria or criteria of political rationality should be allowed to replace this basic operating principle of everyone who is engaged in science.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

156073

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/156073

Publication date:

31.12.1978.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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