Sociology and Common Sense
Common sense is defined as routine knowledge that people have of their everyday world and activities. Common Sense explanations are generally based on wat may be called naturalistic and/or individualistic explanation based on taken for granted knowledge. Sociology has its tryst with common sense since long and it has been accused of being no more than common sense right from its birth. Sociology is distinguished from common sense on various grounds - 1. Common sense generally takes cues from what appears on surface . Sociology on the other hand looks for interconnections and root causes which may not be apparent. A sociologist works like a sceptic,and sociology as a science of organised scepticism,looking beyond what meets the eye. Explanations for religion and suicide by Durkheim are the best examples of such sociological outlook. 2. Sociology uses reason and logic ,common sense uses conjectures and stereotypical beliefs. Common sense views are often based upon images that ...