Sociology and common sense

Bibliographic Data

ID19127679
AuthorsDavid Thomas (0000-0003-4993-7294), David A Thomas (Bridge University, corresponding author)
Year1978
Volume21
Issue1-4
Pages1-32
Publication date1978-01-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInquiry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0020-174X • E-ISSN: 1502-3923
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00201747808601838
OpenAlexW2011836723
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited13

After a definition of ‘common sense’ it is argued that sociology and common sense both do and ought to interact with one another. Four positions on the sociology‐common sense relation in the light of the interaction thesis are then critically discussed: sociology must break with common sense; sociology must be based on common sense; sociology and common sense are incomparable; and sociology and common sense are identical. The first two of these positions are further sub‐divided in terms of whether the arguments in their favour are or are not independent of one's conceptions of sociology and common sense. Each of these positions is illustrated by means of a case study of one author. The final section involves a consideration of ethnomethodology on the basis of the above typology: it is argued that ethnomethodology cannot find a site on the sociology‐common sense question which is compatible with its basic commitments

Common sense · Epistemology · Ethnomethodology · Historical sociology · Relation (database) · Social science · Sociology · Typology · Anthropology · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Critical Realism in Sociology · Philosophy

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