Spiritual Values and Sociology: When We Have Debunked Everything, What The

Document Type

Article

Department or Administrative Unit

Sociology

Publication Date

2-1982

Abstract

Sociology is criticized for its preoccupation with debunking social myths. Limitless debunking leaves students ill-prepared for a world where values are necessary, injures their relations with others, and undermines their self-respect. It is argued that sociology must examine concepts such as honesty, duty, responsibility, generosity, etc., as well as the existence of consciousness, as necessary elements of an adequate understanding of society. The study of society may not be separated from the study of the source and purpose of life even if it makes research difficult, and to fail to seek such an integration is to add to the miseries sociology typically claims to oppose. Suggestions for research and a practical method for generating awareness of fundamental principles are proposed.

Comments

This article was originally published in The American Sociologist. The full-text article from the publisher can be found here.

Due to copyright restrictions, this article is not available for free download from ScholarWorks @ CWU.

Journal

The American Sociologist

Link to Full Text

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