Metaphors in sociology: a new perspective or a road to nowhere?

Metaphors in sociology:
a new perspective or a road to nowhere?


Kravchenko A.I.

M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia kravchenkoai@mail.ru

ID of the Article:


For citation:

Kravchenko A.I. Metaphors in sociology: a new perspective or a road to nowhere?. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2016. No 7. P. 124-133




Abstract

The article argues that metaphors play a key role in shaping theoretical language of sociology, building methodological tools and interpretation of the data. Unique metaphors characterize sociological paradigm – Marxism, functionalism, interactionism. They help to make scientific discoveries and organize everyday communication language of sociologists. The situation is similar in all sciences, not excluding natural ones. Today there are new examples of the metaphor of sociology as a proof of its undiminished creative powers.


Keywords
basic metaphors; paradigms; development of questionnaires; case study; metaphorization language
Content No 7, 2016