Sociological Imagination

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In this essay I will be critically discussing how to demonstrate and show understanding of the sociological imagination. I will also critically discuss the theorists view on the sociological imagination. Lastly I will show how the sociological imagination applies to schooling or education in South Africa. I will also give an in depth explanation and examination of one challenge in schooling/education in South Africa.
The sociological imagination is the understanding of the historical and biographical circumstances in a social setting. ”Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both” (Mills, 1959, p. 3). As human beings we are unable to look past our personal issues and are forgetful …show more content…

Wright. Mills wants society to takes a step back and look at the way we interact with each other and how society was build up. By taking a step back C.Wright Mills wants human beings to fully understand society and the individual by applying the sociological imagination approach and thinking. One of mills theory’s was that history ties in with the biography of a human being. Examining the history side of it is being able to see how the society developed and came about and how the society is always advancing and changing. It is also important to understand how the society was made and structure. In order to understand the society we need to understand and know about the history of society. Mills states that “The sociological imagination enables its possessor to understand the larger historical scene in terms of its meaning for the inner life and the external career of a variety of individuals.” (Mills. 2000, p. 5). Mills was certain that being able to connect the relationship between the simple everyday lives of people and the society in which we live was very important and fundamental to grasp the sociological imagination. “Your life chances were looked at by locating ourselves with people that have the same circumstances as us. The way social structure is set up.” (Mills, 2000, p. 5) Mills believes that in order for human beings to grasp the concept of the sociological imagination one must understand that you get public issues and personal troubles. Personal troubles is troubles that happen to a human being because of their doing or because of their character whereas public issues are an immediate result of what complication and problems the society is faced with.in many situations and in circumstances you have to look both at public issues and private troubles, as more times than not they go hand in hand. Mills states that in many circumstances an individual will fully accuse themselves rather than looking at the society which they live. “Troubles occur

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