Sources of Unity and Disunity in Sociology

Abstract

In this essay I will present some ideas on the themes of unity and disunity in our field. It will be a sociological analysis of our own house, a kind of sociology of knowledge about sociology. I will not only consider internal features of the discipline but also will move out of doors and consider our institutional embeddedness in the academy, as well as in larger societal, political, and cultural environments. It is rare that sociologists use their own tools to analyze themselves, but it important and profitable to do so. I use the terms “unity” and “disunity” in the title. Neither term is very clear in its meaning. My subject is sufficiently complex, however, that a single term with a single referent will not do. By “unity” I mean commitment to a common culture and mission, a sense of solidarity, lack of conflict, and a generally positive attitude toward others in one’s social category (in this case, other sociologists). By “disunity” I mean the opposite of each of the factors making for unity.