Social+Theory+its+uses+and+pleasures


 * Lemert, Charles. “Social Theory: Its Uses and Pleasures,” in //Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings//. Edited by Charles Lemert. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Westview Press, 2010.**

Thesis of the essay: “Social theory is what we do when we find ourselves able to put into words what nobody seems to want to talk about. . . . it leads us to the common pleasure—a pleasure rubbed raw with what is: the simple but necessary power of knowing that one knows what is there because one can say it” (20). Summary of the reading: · Anyone can—and does—do social theory. In this context it “**is the normal accomplishment of socially adept human creatures figuring out what other creatures of the same sort are doing with, to, or around them**” (2). Similarly, David Bradley suggests that it is looking at the “hidden aspects of social life we sometimes encounter in the ordinary course of daily life” (Lemert 2). Also, social theory is different from other theory in that it locates itself “in the tense, unrecognized spaces of social turmoil” (12). · The context of any social theory is social disruption. From Marx to Du Bois, Durkheim to Gilman, we see this (pp. 9-10), and we can feel past social theory more acutely in the context of our own social disruption today: “Perhaps because of the social disturbances of the present time, we are only now able to appreciate the complexity of classical social theory. The great white men—Weber, Marx, Durkheim—were great social thinkers because they did not buy the official story of the modern world uncritically. They were circumspect (Durkheim), conflicted (Weber), or passionate (Marx)” (11). · Social theory finds its **origins in the beginning of modernity**, when people began to reflect on the modern/traditional dichotomy. Weber, Durkheim, and Marx all wrote in this time. This impetus of a new society is not necessarily a prerequisite for social theory, but we could argue that the social theorists at the time could not have done social theory without the new society. · Social theory was then relegated to the margins between the late 1800s and 1960. This was changed by the civil rights movement. · **Today’s social theorists** can be said to be more diverse, more interdisciplinary, and seated in an environment that is more accepting and encouraging of critical thinking. There is no more single teleology, but rather an openness to a greater number of theories. From Derrida’s proclamation of poststructuralism to multiculturalism, to globalization. · Lemert holds that there may be a **new world order** that is bringing social theory full-circle to another past v. future discussion. What does increased globalization mean? How does the world as different than it was before manifest itself in peoples’ daily lives? · One theme is words: how to use words in such a way that we acknowledge their power but also use them to the benefit of the social theory. Actually, social theorists tend to develop a theory of language early on in their careers. The way social theory has been able to adapt to the various contexts in which it is used makes it difficult, if not impossible, to define narrowly. Instead, it seems that the penumbras of social theory can only be identified by context. Does this reality “cheapen” social theory, or does it make it more robust and relevant?
 * Thoughts/Discussion:**