Q. Is Sociology Common Sense? Give reasons in support of your argument. (UPSC CSE Sociology Optional, 2016 | 10 Marks)
Introduction
Common sense is based on personal experiences, traditions, and everyday beliefs, whereas sociology is the scientific and systematic study of society. Although sociology often deals with familiar social issues, it goes beyond common sense by providing objective, evidence-based explanations.
I. Why Sociology is Not Common Sense
1. Sociology is Scientific
Sociology uses observation, surveys, interviews, and empirical research to study society rather than relying on assumptions.
Example: Emile Durkheim explained suicide through social integration using statistical data.
2. Sociology Questions Everyday Beliefs
It critically examines beliefs that are often accepted without evidence.
Example: Sociology shows that poverty is influenced by social inequality, not merely individual laziness.
3. Sociology is Objective
It aims to minimize personal bias through systematic methods and logical analysis.
Example: Study of gender inequality using census and survey data.
4. Sociology Explains Social Causes
It links individual behaviour with broader social structures and institutions.
Example: Crime is analysed in relation to family, peer groups, and economic conditions.
II. Sociology and Common Sense: Areas of Similarity
1. Both Deal with Everyday Social Life
Both are concerned with human behaviour, family, religion, education, and social interactions.
Example: Both seek to understand marriage and family life.
2. Common Sense May Provide Initial Insights
Everyday observations can generate questions that sociology investigates scientifically.
Example: Observation of increasing divorce rates leading to sociological research.
Conclusion
Sociology is not common sense because it is based on scientific methods, empirical evidence, and theoretical analysis. While common sense may offer initial observations, sociology critically examines and verifies them to produce objective knowledge about society.
Thinkers
- Peter L. Berger – Invitation to Sociology; sociology looks beyond appearances.
- Emile Durkheim – Scientific study of social facts.
- C. Wright Mills – Sociological Imagination.
- Max Weber – Value-neutrality.
Common Sense, Scientific Method, Empirical Research, Objectivity, Social Facts, Sociological Imagination, Value Neutrality.
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| MICROTHEMES SOCIOLOGY | |
| ANTHROPOLOGY | 2013 ||| Paper 1 – 1b ||| Compare and contrast Sociology with Anthropology. 10 | ||||||
| 2024 ||| Paper 1 – 1a ||| Discuss the nature of Sociology. Highlight its relationship with Social Anthropology. 10 | |||||||
| PSYCHOLOGY | 2014 ||| Paper 1 – 1c ||| How is sociological approach to human actions different from that of psychological approach? 10 | ||||||
| MULTIDISCIPLINE | 2017 ||| Paper 1 – 2a ||| Discuss – the changing ･equations of discipline of sociology with other social sciences. 20 | ||||||
| 2021 ||| Paper 1 – 2a ||| From the viewpoint of growing importance of multidisciplinarity, how do you relate sociology to other social sciences ? 20 | |||||||
| 2022 ||| Paper 1 – 1a ||| Delimit the scope of Sociology in relation to other social sciences. 10 | |||||||
| POL SCI | 2023 ||| Paper 1 – 1b ||| Discuss the relationship between Sociology and Political science. 10 | ||||||
| HISTORY | 2010 ||| Paper 1 – 2a ||| ” Sociology without History is rootless and History without Sociology is fruitess.” Elaborate. 30 | ||||||
| COMMON SENSE | 2016 ||| Paper 1 – 2c ||| Is sociology common sense? Give reasons in support of your argument. 10 | ||||||
| 2021 ||| Paper 1 – 2c ||| How is sociology related to common sense ? 10 | |||||||
| 2023 ||| Paper 1 – 4a ||| Do you think that common sense is the starting point of social research? What are its advantages and limitations? Explain. | |||||||
| 2025 ||| Paper 1 – 1 a ||| What is common sense? How are common knowledge and sociology related to each other? Explain. | |||||||
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| SOCIOLOGY THE DISCIPLINE | |
| MODERNITY | |
| 2013 ||| Paper 1 – 1a ||| “Sociology emerged in Europe and flourished to begin with on social reformist orientation in the U.S.A.” – Comment. 10 | ANSWER |
| 2016 ||| Paper 1 – 1a ||| “Sociology is pre-eminently study of modern societies.” Discuss. 10 | ANSWER |
| 2017 ||| Paper 1 – 1a ||| Explain how sociology has emerged as a distinct discipline based on rationality and scientific temper. 10 | ANSWER |
| 2020 ||| Paper 1 – 1a ||| How did the intellectual forces lead to the emergence of sociology ? Discuss. 10 | ANSWER |
| 2015 ||| Paper 1 – 3c ||| How had Enlightenment contributed to the emergence of sociology? 10 | ANSWER |
| 2022 ||| Paper 1 – 2a ||| What aspects of Enlightenment do you think paved way for the emergence of sociology? Elaborate. 20 | ANSWER |
| 2019 ||| Paper 1 – 1a ||| Discuss the historical antecedents of the emergence of Sociology as a discipline. 10 | ANSWER |
| 2024 ||| Paper 1 – 2a ||| Sociology is the product of European enlightenment and renaissance. Critically examine this statement. 20 | ANSWER |
| 2021 ||| Paper 1 – 1a ||| Europe was the first and the only place where modernity emerged. Comment. 10 | ANSWER |
| SCOPE OF SOCIOLOGY | |
| 2020 ||| Paper 1 – 5a ||| In the context of globalisation, has the scope of sociology been changing in India ? Comment. 10 | ANSWER |
| 2025 ||| Paper 1 – 5a ||| In what way is the scope of sociology unique? Explain. | ANSWER |
| OTHER SOCIAL SCIENCES | |
| ANTHROPOLOGY | |
| 2013 ||| Paper 1 – 1b ||| Compare and contrast Sociology with Anthropology. 10 | ANSWER |
| 2024 ||| Paper 1 – 1a ||| Discuss the nature of Sociology. Highlight its relationship with Social Anthropology. 10 | ANSWER |
| PSYCHOLOGY | |
| 2014 ||| Paper 1 – 1c ||| How is sociological approach to human actions different from that of psychological approach? 10 | ANSWER |
| POL SCI | |
| 2023 ||| Paper 1 – 1b ||| Discuss the relationship between Sociology and Political science. 10 | ANSWER |
| HISTORY | |
| 2010 ||| Paper 1 – 2a ||| ” Sociology without History is rootless and History without Sociology is fruitess.” Elaborate. 30 | ANSWER |
| MULTIDISCIPLINE | |
| 2017 ||| Paper 1 – 2a ||| Discuss – the changing ･equations of discipline of sociology with other social sciences. 20 | ANSWER |
| 2021 ||| Paper 1 – 2a ||| From the viewpoint of growing importance of multidisciplinarity, how do you relate sociology to other social sciences ? 20 | ANSWER |
| 2022 ||| Paper 1 – 1a ||| Delimit the scope of Sociology in relation to other social sciences. 10 | ANSWER |
| COMMON SENSE | |
| 2016 ||| Paper 1 – 2c ||| Is sociology common sense? Give reasons in support of your argument. 10 | ANSWER |
| 2021 ||| Paper 1 – 2c ||| How is sociology related to common sense ? 10 | ANSWER |
| 2023 ||| Paper 1 – 4a ||| Do you think that common sense is the starting point of social research? What are its advantages and limitations? Explain. | ANSWER |
| 2025 ||| Paper 1 – 1 a ||| What is common sense? How are common knowledge and sociology related to each other? Explain. | ANSWER |
| POLITICS AND SOCIETY { BOTH P1 &P2 } | |
| POWER ELITE | |
| 2016 ||| Paper 1 – 5b ||| Discuss the importance of ‘power elite’ in democracy. 10 | ANSWER |
| 2022 ||| Paper 2 – 6c ||| Discuss the changing natures of structure of political elites. 10 | ANSWER |
| 2018 ||| Paper 1 – 7c ||| What according to Pareto, are the basic characteristics of elites ? Discuss. 10 | ANSWER |
| 2019 ||| Paper 1 – 7c | Discuss the concept of circulation of elite. 10 Marks | ANSWER |
| 2019 ||| Paper 1 – 6b ||| What are the theoretical models of societal power ? Which one of them is most applicable in advanced industrial societies ? 20 | ANSWER |
| 2020 ||| Paper 1 – 6b ||| According to Mills, “Elites rule in institutional terms rather than psychological terms.” Comment. 20 | ANSWER |
| 2021 ||| Paper 1 – 5b ||| Critically examine the relevance of Vilfredo Pareto’s theory of Circulation of Elites in the present scenario. 10 | ANSWER |
| 2023 ||| Paper 1 – 2a ||| What, according to Robert Michels, is the iron law of oligarchy? Do lions and foxes in Vilfredo Pareto’s theory, essentially differ from each other? Substantiate | ANSWER |
| SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF POWER | |
| 2014 ||| Paper 1 – 6a ||| “Power is not a zero-sum game.” Discuss with reference to Weber’s and Parsons’ views. 20 | ANSWER |