Over de mogelijkheid en de wenselijkheid van een "kritische sociologie"

Samenvatting

The results of sociological research are not the logical consequences of the application of strict standards of scientific inquiry. The reason for this can be ascertained in the dilemma to which sociology, as the science of social reality, is faced. Because sociology is itself a part of social reality it must make a choice to either adjust the object of the inquiry (society) to the established methods of scientific inquiry, or develop a method that comes to terms with the object of inquiry. The first alternative suggests the usual method of sociological inquiry--utilizing positivistic methods. The other choice leads to a dialectical sociology as practiced by the 'School of Frankfort' (Horkheimer, Adorno, Habermas). This last form of sociology is in itself critical. Dialectical sociology, conscious of being a part of society, tries to be the medium by which society is made conscious of its own situation. It reveals to what extent the present situation of society is in line with that which society, given the present possibilities, could be, & to what extent present society is in line with the ideas concerning what society as a hyman reality should be. For the sociologist who wants to uncover the truth about social reality, it should be quite evident that his choice should be that of dialectical sociology. It is in this way that he tells people the truth about their own social life, & he avoids contributing to the process in which the truth about society is hidden from its members. Modified AA.