Popularisatie in de Nederlandse sociologie

Samenvatting

A discussion of the popularization of science as it affects Dutch sociology. Popularization is distinguished from vulgarization. Popularization is defined as 'the penetration of the substance of culture into popular strata which did not have the same conditions of tradition and education as the present cultured strata' (T. Geiger). Vulgarization exists when 'the balance between the scientific quality of the popularized work of science and the adaptation to the expected level of the reading public is broken in favor of adaptation.' In the Netherlands, popularization of science is associated with movements of popular emancipation. At the turn of the cent, it affected the natural sciences; sociology became affected by it after WWII. Sociology has become 'readable,' in spite of some resistances. Dutch sociologists should adapt their methods and concepts to cope with the ever more urgent popularization of their science. I. Langnas.