Both of these beliefs are exhibited in Mill’s general idea of “sociological imagination”. He believes that ‘ordinary men’ need “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, 9) He believes that once men do this they will feel freed from things they originally felt trapped by, therefore making their lives better. They also must understand how their own personal troubles connect to public issues. He believes that larger world issues may be solved by using the sociological imagination such as war, marriage, economy, and ‘the problem of the city’ by looking at the larger picture to evaluate what kind of problem it is. Then to help individuals realize if it is them or the society creating the problem and how to come to peace with the problem either way. Mills disagrees that the self can be removed from sociology and that in order to make a positive change a sociologist must look at others lives
Both of these beliefs are exhibited in Mill’s general idea of “sociological imagination”. He believes that ‘ordinary men’ need “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, 9) He believes that once men do this they will feel freed from things they originally felt trapped by, therefore making their lives better. They also must understand how their own personal troubles connect to public issues. He believes that larger world issues may be solved by using the sociological imagination such as war, marriage, economy, and ‘the problem of the city’ by looking at the larger picture to evaluate what kind of problem it is. Then to help individuals realize if it is them or the society creating the problem and how to come to peace with the problem either way. Mills disagrees that the self can be removed from sociology and that in order to make a positive change a sociologist must look at others lives