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Concept Development in Sociology: A Comment on Steve Fuller's, ‘Will Sociology find some New Concepts before the US finds Osama bin Laden?’

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  • Stephen Vertigans
  • Philip Sutton

Abstract

An interesting issue is raised by Steve Fuller's ‘Will Sociology Find Some New Concepts’ in the previous issue of this journal. This is the extent to which the research programmes of sociologists are or should be influenced by particular, significant events. If this is a call for scientific open-mindedness in the interpretation of violent forms of terrorism and their causes, then it is good advice for us all. However, there is a danger that the interpretation of ‘significance’ will be shaped by the specific reception of events in the relatively rich nations, thus paradoxically tying sociological work to the vagaries of contemporary politics in similar ways to some of those contributions that Fuller rightly criticises. The main issue here we suggest, is not that of failing to see that real world events can confound our expectations, but of understanding and explaining events of many different kinds within ongoing research programmes, as this is what constitutes the real value of the sociological contribution to knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Vertigans & Philip Sutton, 2002. "Concept Development in Sociology: A Comment on Steve Fuller's, ‘Will Sociology find some New Concepts before the US finds Osama bin Laden?’," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 7(1), pages 71-75, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:7:y:2002:i:1:p:71-75
    DOI: 10.5153/sro.695
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