Sociology in P. L. Berger:

A “Science and Ethics” Perspective

Abstract

This study aims to examine P. L. Berger's contributions, with a special focus on his work about the meaning of sociology at the meta-level. In the 1960s, when Berger started to develop his theory, the debate on the relationship between sociology and politics was lively. Clearly conscious of this, Berger continued his theoretical work, although he was also concerned about sociology and his religious faith. From a time perspective, the former issue overlapped the latter through the 1970s.

Therefore, this study relocates Berger's theory at the intersection between his consideration on sociology and politics and the ones on sociology and his religious faith. By doing so, it will formulate his sociological thought in terms of “science and ethics” as he put it. This could shed a new light on his theory about sociology and politics, which has been questioned as to whether it embodies conservative ideas. In other words, this study reinterprets Berger's thought within the interrelated frameworks of sociology, politics, and religion.

Thus, this research provides a general view on the outline of his thought configuration. This outline could be the clue to reexamine the concepts within Berger's sociological theory, in particular those of “meaning” and “everyday life,” as well as to discuss the traits of American sociology.