Sociology and Common Sense
Sociology
Commonsense knowledge refers to the routine understanding people have about their everyday world and activities.
Such explanations are usually rooted in “naturalistic” or individualistic assumptions that rely on taken-for-granted beliefs.
Since its inception, sociology has been criticised for being too close to commonsense ideas.
Example: the belief that “women are more emotional than men” reflects a commonsense notion.
Thinkers’ view
Andre Béteille states that sociological knowledge aims to be general or even universal, whereas commonsense knowledge is always specific and local.
Durkheim argues that sociology must free itself from commonsense assumptions in order to develop scientific understanding of the social world.
Marxists believe that much of commonsense knowledge is ideological or, at best, provides a very narrow view of reality.
Anthony Giddens notes that sociological ideas can sometimes enter everyday commonsense; for instance, sociological studies on marital breakdown have encouraged the belief that marriage is inherently risky.
Relationship between Common Sense and Sociology
Sociology draws heavily from commonsense, as both relate to everyday experiences, which often leads people to confuse one with the other.
Sociological knowledge is general and sometimes universal, whereas commonsense knowledge is particular, specific, and localised.
Commonsense is unreflective, since it does not question the origins or assumptions behind its beliefs.
Sociology shows that commonsense is highly variable across different societies and contexts.
Sociology provides a deeper understanding of society through systematic comparison, something commonsense cannot achieve.
Sociology uses scientific tools and techniques, while commonsense relies on preconceptions that sociology rejects.
Commonsense often imagines utopian social arrangements, whereas sociology is anti-utopian, focusing on the gap between ideals and realities.
Sociology is anti-fatalistic; it challenges fixed commonsense beliefs and shows that societies always have alternative possibilities.
Sociology strives for value neutrality, while commonsense is a major source of biases and errors.
Commonsense refers to routine, taken-for-granted knowledge used in everyday life.
Different sociological traditions view commonsense differently.
In Alfred Schutz’s phenomenology, commonsense consists of organised, typified, taken-for-granted knowledge that guides action.
For ethnomethodologists, commonsense or tacit knowledge is continuously produced through implicit rules that give everyday life structure and coherence.
For symbolic interactionists, sociology aims to explain and elaborate people’s commonsense views of the social world.
Durkheim argues that sociology must break free from commonsense prejudices to produce scientific knowledge.
Marxists view most commonsense knowledge as ideological or limited in its understanding of society.
Therefore, one must distinguish between commonsense-based knowledge and sociologically derived knowledge rooted in systematic research and scientific methods.
How Common-sense aids Sociology?
Common sense aids sociologists in forming hypotheses: For instance, common sense might suggest that individuals from rural areas are more community-oriented. Sociologists can use this assumption to investigate social bonds in rural vs. urban settings, which can either validate or challenge the hypothesis.
Common sense provides foundational ideas for sociological research: For example, the stereotype that people with higher education are less likely to commit crimes can be a starting point for research. Sociologists might explore crime rates in relation to education levels to test this belief.
It also enriches sociology by questioning its findings: If common sense suggests that men are naturally better suited for leadership roles, but sociological research concludes that leadership is influenced more by socialization and opportunity than by gender, this contradiction can spur further investigation into gender roles and leadership.
Hegel argues that philosophy evolves from everyday experience, making every individual a social theorist: A worker who perceives the wage gap as unfair might not have formal training in sociology but is, in a sense, theorizing about class inequality based on lived experiences—an insight sociology can later formalize and study.
The relationship between common sense and sociology is fluid and can be mutually reinforcing: Common sense may lead to assumptions like “technology isolates people.” Sociological studies may either confirm this (showing increased loneliness with social media use) or challenge it (finding that technology enhances certain social connections), thus refining both sociological theory and common-sense beliefs.
Differences between Common sense and Sociology
| Sociology | Common sense |
|---|---|
|
Sociology looks for inter-connections and root causes which
may not be apparent |
Common sense generally takes cues
from what appears on surface |
|
Sociology uses reason and logic |
Common sense uses conjectures and stereotypical beliefs |
|
Sociology is based upon evidences |
Common sense is based upon assumptions |
|
Sociological knowledge is objective |
Common sense is intuitive |
|
Sociological knowledge is change oriented |
Common sense promotes status-quo |
|
Sociology is based on data, methods |
Common sense based on personal judgements |
|
Sociological knowledge results into generalization
and even theory building |
Common sense knowledge may be very personal and two persons may
draw different conclusion of a same event based
on their own common sense |
| Explanation of | Sociology | Common sense |
|---|---|---|
|
Poverty |
Contemporary poverty is caused by the structure
of inequality in class society and is experienced by those
who suffer from chronic irregularity of work and low wages. |
People are poor because they are afraid of work,
come from `problem families’ are unable to budget
properly, suffer from low intelligence and shiftlessness. |
Thus, a statement made on common sense basis may be just a guess, a hunch or a haphazard way of saying something generally based on ignorance, bias, prejudice or mistaken interpretation, though occasionally it may be wise, true, and a useful bit of knowledge.
At one-time, common-sense statements might have preserved folk wisdom but today, scientific method has become a common way of seeking truths about our social world.
Previous Year Questions
- Is Sociology common sense? Give reasons in support of your argument (2016)
- The focal point of Sociology rests on interaction. How do you distinguish it from common sense? (2018)
- How is Sociology related to common sense (2021)
- Do you think that common sense is the starting point of social research? What are its advantages & limitations? Explain (2023)
Important Keywords
Commonsense, Routine Knowledge, Sociology, Granted Knowledge, Andre Beteille, Durkheim, Anthony Giddens, Everyday Experiences, Localised, Unreflective, Anti-utopian, Anti-fatalistic, Value neutral, Phenomenological sociology, Ethnomethodologists, Symbolic interactionists, Hypothesis, Status-quo and Starting point of social research.
Participant and Non-Participant Observation
Home / Participant and Non-Participant Observation Participant Observation Meaning and Nature of Participant Observation Participant observation is a qualitative research
Schedule as a Data Collection Tool in Sociology
Home / Schedule as a Data Collection Tool in Sociology In sociological research, the accuracy and reliability of data depend
Interview as a Data Collection Method in Sociology
Home / Interview as a Data Collection Method in Sociology In sociological research, understanding human behavior, attitudes, and social processes
Questionnaire as a Quantitative Method
Home / Questionnaire as a Quantitative Method In social science research, the questionnaire is one of the most widely used
Census as a Quantitative Method
Home / Census as a Quantitative Method The census is one of the most comprehensive quantitative tools used in social
Survey as a Quantitative Method
Home / Survey as a Quantitative Method In sociological research, quantitative methods are essential for studying social phenomena in a
Techniques of Data Collection in Sociology
Home / Techniques of Data Collection in Sociology Techniques of data collection constitute one of the most significant components of
Qualitative Research Method in Sociology
Home / Qualitative Research Method in Sociology Qualitative research refers to an approach to social research that focuses on non-quantitative
Quantitative Research Method in Sociology
Home / Quantitative Research Method in Sociology Quantitative research refers to a systematic investigation of social phenomena through the collection
Research Methodology in Sociology
Home / Research Methodology in Sociology Research refers to a systematic, objective, and critical investigation of social reality with the