Why should we think sociologically about everyday life Discuss by Essay

Why should we think sociologically about everyday life Discuss by drawing on writings by Mills and Bauman - Essay Example According to Bauman (2001), there are characteristics that set sociological thinking apart from other, more commonsense ways of thinking. Sociological thinking questions basic assumptions – it does not take for granted the everyday suppositions that we make; rather, it deconstructs theses assumptions and breaks them down, making them open to debate and differing opinions. Also, such a way of thinking goes beyond just our individual experiences; instead, it tries to explore multiple world views, trying to look at as many different perspectives as possible, respecting and accepting that difference of opinion will always exist. Another difference between sociological thinking and other kinds of thinking are that when trying to explore human behavior, such a way of thinking does not limit itself to individual experience, but instead, looks at societal behavior as a basis for explaining human behavior. Lastly, sociological thinking is structured in such a way that it bases its argu ments by backing it up with evidence, rather than making claims that are unsupported by facts. So what are the reasons that make it important for us to think sociologically? What can such a thinking do for us and why is it important? One of the most important reasons for thinking sociologically, as Bauman & May (2001) make clear for us, is its emphasis on de-familiarizing ourselves with what we have come to take as granted. What this does is that it opens us up to differing perspectives, allowing us to think beyond what we have taken to be our reality. â€Å"To all those who think that living life in a more conscious way is worth the effort, sociology is a welcome guide† (Bauman & May 2001). Sociological thinking is reflective and perceptive; it encourages us to look at the world in new ways, exploring and understanding issues from multiple perspectives, always accepting the fact that people will hold different opinions, depending on their own individual experiences and social