Inquire into Alvin Ward Gouldner?s critical sociology

After the 1960s Gouldner who has given his initial works on the sociology of industry, tended towards the theory of social theories and carried out critical re-readings of many social theorists from Platon to Weber and from Parsons to Marx. In that sense, the theory of social theories, on the base line, characterizes Gouldner?s critical sociology. However, Gouldner?s tendency towards the theory of social theories is actually a part of his commitment to the `sociology of sociology?. He names his idea as `reflexive sociology? since Gouldner does not believe that there is only one `sociology of sociology?. The main distinguishing characteristic of Gouldner?s critical sociology is reflexive sociology which is a necessary condition for the sociological effort to become mature. With reflexive sociology Gouldner goes a step forward to expose not only the apparent assumptions of intellectual life but also the assumptions that lie underneath of its substructure. With an ontological analysis on the character of sociology Gouldner aims at deepening the self awareness of sociologist and at the same time aims at a sociology which has a better understanding of other people and their social worlds via trying to show who and what is sociologist, and to show how his social role and his personal praxis affect the work of a sociologist.