Pitirim Sorokin as a Cause: Sociology and Metaphysics of Distemper

Pitirim Sorokin as a Cause: Sociology and Metaphysics of Distemper


Ozhiganov E.N.

Dr. Sci. (Philos.), Senior Researcher, Center for Strategic Research in Innovation of the International Institute of Energy Policy and Innovation Management of the Odintsovo branch of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Moscow, Russia Edward.Ozhiganov@gmail.com

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Ozhiganov E.N. Pitirim Sorokin as a Cause: Sociology and Metaphysics of Distemper. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2018. No 12. P. 133-142




Abstract

The author analyzes sociological journalism and political predictions of Russian-American sociologist P.A. Sorokin during the period of the Russian political collapse of 1917–18, as well as the possibility of adapting his «sociology of the revolution» to studies of the transformation of the contemporary socio-political system of the Russian Federation. The author reveals the dependence of P. Sorokin’s «stronger scientific approach» to studying the course of the February and October coups of 1917 and predicting their consequences on his ideological beliefs and party positions. In this context, the example of P. Sorokin is seen as a reason for understanding the causes of the distemper in Russia and the responsibility of sociological science for the reliability of political forecasts. The article highlights the connection between political positivism and operative masonry of P.A. Sorokin. His case shows that political foresight can be fundamentally untenable, but, nevertheless, instrumental from the point of view of achieving parties or groups goals.


Keywords
P.A. Sorokin; Russian revolution; the sociology of the revolution; political forecasts; political positivism; political masonry

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Content No 12, 2018