SOCIOLOGY AND COMMON SENSE KNOWLEDGE

Relevance: Sociology paper I: Sociology – The Discipline

1. 1. Modernity and social changes in Europe and emergence of sociology.
   2. Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences.
   3. Sociology and common sense.

Sociological knowledge is different from theological and philosophical observations.

Likewise sociology is different from common sense observation.

Many a time we make certain statements which we have not to prove that they are true.  They are based either on common sense or on practical observations and experiences on social life, though sometimes they may be based on wisdom too.  However, often they are based on ignorance, prejudices and mistaken interpretation.

Common sense knowledge, based on the accumulated experiences, prejudices and beliefs of the people, is often contradictory and inconsistent. On the other hand, scientific observations are based on verifiable evidence or systematic body of proof that can be cited.  For example, some common sense statements may be quoted here: man is more intelligent than women; married people remain happier than single people; high-caste people are more talented than low-caste people.

Contrary to this, the scientific research or scientific inquiry finds that woman is as intelligent as man; there is no association between happiness and remaining married or unmarried by a person; caste does not determine individual’s efficiency.

Common sense observations result in widespread ignorance and rejection of a sociological perspective when people think about human behavior.

Common-sense perspectives predominate in people’s minds.  They may, for instance, employ a biological perspective in attempting to explain family and marital arrangements; women rear children because they have a maternal instinct (biologically determined) for this task.

Similarly, they may use pseudo-psychological perspective in explaining suicide (people commit suicide when they are mentally unbalanced), or a moralistic perspective in explaining crime (Criminals are people who have not developed a conscience regulating their actions).

Because ordinary people are more familiar with these kinds of common-sense perspectives in their everyday lives a sociological approach does not come easily to them.

Commonsense observation is further compounded by a deeply held commitment to the idea that we are all individuals, unique beings with our own special qualities, which sociologists deny.

Sociologists emphasise, that what is ‘common-sense’ or ‘natural’ may be by no means universal or eternal, but is frequently relative to particular societies or to particular periods in time.

The common-sense view of differences in behaviour between men and women in the family in our society tends to assume that because there are biological and physiological differences between men and women, certain aspects of their behavior are therefore ‘natural’.

For example, it is often argued that it is common sense and natural that women will engage in child-rearing and domestic tasks and that men will make sexual advances and will work outside the home.

To the Hopi Indians of North America it is ‘common-sense’ view that rain-clouds are Gods and must therefore be made happy through exhibiting Rain dance. This is a view not entirely consistent with that of the Meteorological office.  The essential point, then, is that one person’s common sense is somebody else’s nonsense and there are many examples of sociological and anthropological investigation questioning and exploding many common-sense notions about behavior. Although the use of everyday common-sense beliefs is, usually not only unsystematic and inadequate but also often contradictory.

The common sense explanations are generally based on what may be called ‘naturalistic’ and/or individualistic explanation.  A naturalistic explanation for behavior rests on the assumption that one can really identify ‘natural’ reasons for behavior.

An individualistic explanation of some event or phenomenon assumes that the event can be readily understood and explained solely through reference to the behavior of the individuals involved in it. There is no attempt to understand or explain the phenomenon in terms of wider social forces.  A naturalistic explanation of behavior rests on the assumptions that one can readily identify ‘natural’ (or sometimes ‘God-given’) reasons for behavior.

For example, it is only natural, that two people should fall in love, get married, live together, and raise a family. Such explanations are rejected as inadequate by the sociologist.

Sociology thus breaks away from both common sense observations and ideas as well as from philosophical thought.  It does not always or even generally lead to spectacular results.  But meaningful and unsuspected connections can be reached only by sitting through masses of connections.

Great advances in sociological knowledge have been made, generally incrementally and only rarely by a dramatic breakthrough. Sociology has a body of concepts, methods and data, no matter how loosely coordinated.  This cannot be substituted by common sense.  Common sense is unreflective since it does not question its own origins.  Or in other words it does not ask itself: “Why do I hold this view?” The sociologist must be ready to ask of any of our beliefs, about ourselves-no matter how cherished-”is this really so?” The systematic and questioning approach of sociology is derived from a broader tradition of scientific investigation. This emphasis on scientific procedures can be understood only if we go back in time.  And understand the context or social situation with which the sociological perspective merged as sociology was greatly influenced by the great developments in modern science.

Conclusion:

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.