Social Imagination in Social

Thought

Sana Bashir 02
Saqlain Baqir 15
Saqlain Zulfiqar 16
Background

 The terms such as “social thought”, “sociology” or “sociological thought” or

“social theory”, “sociological theory” though are not one and the same, are
closely interrelated. It is true that roots of sociology are to be found in social
thought and social philosophy. Social thought itself provided the stimulus for the
establishment of sociology.
Social Thought

 It refers to a person’s rational ability that allows them to see how personal
relationships fit into a bigger societal context. It also explains a persons ability to
differentiate between a personal problems and societal problems. It does not ask
people to see themselves as others do.
 Definition

 Social thought is that branch of thought which is primarily by

concerned with man’s general social life and its problems as
created, expressed and endured by human interrelations and
interactions.
Social imagination

 Social imagination is how individual people understand their and others' pasts in relation to both history and
social structure.

 According to C. Wright Mills, Social imagination is the vivid awareness of the relationship between
experience and wider society.
Dimensions of Social Thought
Three Categories of Social Thought

 1. That involves advancement of human group as groups

 2. that refers to the manipulation of human beings to the gain of a special clique or group
 3. the one which aims to analyze the under lying social processes and laws irrespective of the effects of such
analyses or the uses to which they are put.
Difference between Social Thought and Sociology

 Social thought is more based on logic, imagination, intuition, and capacity of

creative thinking, whereas sociology is based on science, rationality, empiricism
and reality.
Difference between Social Thought and
Sociology

 “Sociology” is the science of society. Its main purpose is to study human life,
activities and relations in a scientific way. It is an independent science by itself
and applies scientific method to its studies.
 Whereas social thought is nothing but societal-thought; it is the totality of man’s
thought about his relationships with his fellowmen. According to Bogardus, it is
co-equal with social prob­lems. As and when social problems cropped up, the
social thought sprang up. Social thought is a kind of thought and it need not
necessarily be classical or systematic in its nature.
Social Thought in Contemporary Society

 Social thought in 20th century onwards in not merely abstract or simplistic. It has evolved into a scientific
and systematic study. It has paved the way for the formation of sociological perspectives by defining the
fundamental concepts like
 Social order
 Social change
 Social action
 Social control
 Social problem
 Sociological problem
Social Thinkers vs Sociologists

 Thinkers who contributed to the realm of social thought were known as social
reform­ers, social philosophers, social visionaries, social revolutionaries and so
on, but not as soci­ologists. The era of sociology and sociologists began only in
the middle of the 18th century.
Features of Social Thought

 The origin of social thought is social problems.

 It’s the end product of social interactions and interrelations.
 Depend on and determined by Time and Space.
 It’s the foundation of civilization and culture
 Based on abstract thinking
 Is not absolute or static, its evolutionary
Scope of Social thought

 Issues and problems are associated with every time, that is past, present and future. Whenever people face
some problems, they must refer it to the intellectual people for solution. Such thoughts are known
as sociological thoughts. These thoughts are related to time and space.
Scope

 Sociological thoughts or theories have limited range. They are applicable to

limited con­texts. They contain issues or themes which are basically social in
nature. On the contrary, the scope of social thought is wider. It is all-inclusive,
because it may incorporate in itself knowl­edge that is not only social but also
spiritual, moral, political, economic, psychological, philo­sophical, and so on.
 Approaches to Social Theory
1. Scientific theories aim to discover laws and principles that apply to human behavior over all societies and
times
 true knowledge is the domain of science while novels, journalism, etc. are opinion and prejudice
 true knowledge requires that observations, research and facts are organized as general principles or laws
2. Philosophical approaches do not approach problems based on empirical observation and research but as
based in conceptual thinking
 So one must first decide what is the important focus in social life. For
example, what social institutions (e.g., religion, the economy) are most important?
Social Theory

3. Social theory as having a moral vision views social knowledge as valuable because it has the potential to
make the world a better place
 theories address social problems and issues, trying to create a dialogue in society that can aid debate and social
change
 theorists give social accounts that advocate specific social and political responses regarding freedom and democracy
Importance of Social thought

 It deals with social process and how they work in the society. Social thoughts have been influences by
factors such as time, place, culture and environment etc. Social thoughts have been providing the
background and bases for the development of various social sciences.
Social Thought leads to

 Construction of sociological perspectives or grand theories

 Better understanding of human society
 Finding patterns and behavioral regularities in people
 Solution of social problems
 Social change