Analysis Of The Sociological Imagination By C. Wright Mills

In 1951, C. Wright Mills wrote a book called The Sociological Imagination. His objective was an attempt to try and link how individuals affect society as a whole. By doing so, he not only challenged, but also examined many basic concepts. In the beginning of the book, Mills aggressively attacks certain parts of sociology and follows on with how he as an individual views sociology, which he believes is a necessity in terms of politics and history (Giddens: 1991).

Mills continues to set out what he believes and ideal and good social science. The significant points to focus on is agency as well as history, and the avoidance of adhering to just one theory or methodology. Furthermore, he stresses that social scientists should focus on one particular area entirely, instead of focusing on other fields such as economics, sociology and psychology. Mills views a living human being as an agent of the individuals me lieu as well as a creature. This is seen as one of the important factors that tend to be ignored in social science (Giddens: 1991).

A similar tem that also pertains to sociological imagination is the sociological perspective. This perspective was made popular by Peter L. Berger. Berger had suggested that Mill’s Sociological perspective was the ability of viewing “the general in the particular (Berger: 1966) and this enables sociologists to come to the realization of any behaviour patterns that are present in particular individuals.

Mills has coined the term "sociological imagination". A sociological imagination can be defined as an individual's ability to ''think ourselves away’ ‘differently to how we usually do on a daily basis, and instead look at it from a more unique point of view. Mills has created his definition of soci...

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... well as factors that form part of social groups. These factors are usually performed at a distance from the consumer. Our lives are influenced by the trading and transactions, and these factors are extremely important to sociologists.

A final dimension to a cup of coffee involves development of the economy and the society in the past. Certain relations pertaining to coffee didn't always exist. The consumption of coffee only became significant after the 19th century. The gradual relationships grew and may possibly change in future due to new developments.

Mills has also emphasised a possibility for change in the future. The study of sociology helps to examine current social life as well as future social life. With the help of sociological imagination, we can see how things are, why they are that way, and what we can do if we want to make things a certain way.