The Sociological Imagination

What are some of the key features of the sociological school Mills calls abstracted empiricism? Why does Mills believe this methodology to be limiting in its epistemic reach?

What are some of the key features of what Mills calls “liberal practicality,” and why does Mills believe this approach hinders the task of the sociologist?

What is the relationship between “liberal practicality” and the “bureaucratic ethos”?

Compared to “abstracted empiricism” and the “bureaucratic ethos,” how does the “sociological imagination” overcome each of these schools respective limitations?

According to Mills, what is the relationship between institutions of power and their symbols of justification?

Mills outlines a tripartite theory of power. He states that coercive power is the final form power takes when diplomacy and negotiation break down. What are the other two forms of power and how do they relate to the perceived authority of social institutions?

According to Mills, why is history such a crucial element in the work of the sociologist?

According to Mills, why is the sociological imagination said to harbor the potential for ameliorating the suffering individuals experience in their daily lives?