Endangered Species? Public Sociology in the Progress of Civilization

I thank the organizers of the Workshop on Public Sociology(National Taiwan University. August 2004) for the opportunity to comment on the ideals and agenda of public sociology spearheaded by Professor Michael Burawoy. In his promotional campaign for public sociology, Burawoy has done American sociology a service by calling attention to and generating debates on such weighty issues as the meaning of life for a sociologist. On the surface, the campaign rhetoric seemed to be preaching to the choir. As it turned out, the campaign is energizing and integrative for some but alienating and divisive for others. In this comment, I will focus on three issues: (1) why the campaign is so contentious and whether it applies to the Taiwanese context, (2) the human passion for the common good and the unique social calling for professional sociology, and (3) what professional sociology can do for public sociology, including the logic of scientific reputation and objectivity.