Waarheid of nut: een antwoord aan Lammers

Samenvatting

According to C. J. Lammers ("De Professionele Vereisten van een Sociologische Opleiding" [The Professional Requirements of a Sociological Education] Sociologische Gids, 1973, 20, 2, 73-87), a responsible sociological professional training must satisfy many requirements. According to these 'universal professional demands' the student must: (1) qualify in the most important paradigms, (2) actively master at least one of the paradigms, (3) demonstrate the necessary knowledge, insight, & skill in social-scientific research, & (4) use every opportunity to absorb the responsibility, the task, & the role of sociology & sociologist in the society. Lammers rightly sees the choice of the paradigm, not as a simple matter of personal preference, but that the student must be guided in his choice by different criteria. In view of the radical changes in Dutch sociological training, the time is ripe for a nationwide discussion on professional requirements which must be defined toward scientific training. Although Lammers' central ideas are plausible, there is much in his requisites & his choice criteria that is unacceptable. E. Preston.