Jyrus Cimatu

1LM3
Submitted to: Assoc. Prof. Marina Gamo Ph. D.
A Reaction Paper
The Sociological Imagination C. Wright Mills

This essay tackles and reacts to the essay written by C. Wright Mills on sociology. In
1959, Mills wrote an essay that set as an inspiration for the study of the development of
a newly found science called sociology, which is the study of societies, institutes and
culture that is within the system. He coined the term sociological imagination, which is
to think out of ourselves and get out of our familiar system and delve within a deeper
degree so we could be enlightened or search for a new thought to think about outside
the box or outside ourselves and dissect the bigger concept and perspective. He
defined it as "the vivid awareness of the relationship between experience and the wider
society." The sociological imagination is the bridge and link between the individual and
the society itself. It is the skill to analyze, determine and relate the finer and complicated
relationship between man and society and how they interact with each other. As such,
this skill requires free thinking and the ability to grasp the issues that is correlated with
each other so that man will know what small topic contributed to the big issue, and what
big issue affected the consequences of the small one.
Mills spent the first parts of the essay discussing about the current trends in sociology
that Moscas question posed. The study of sociology is not confined within the leaves
and hall of the library, nor the tabs and windows that is opened on the Internet through
the use of gadgets. It is not done by merely empirical research; rather its study is
centered on man and his connection with the world through daily experiences and
conversations. It is within the self that one must discover and explore and relating it with
the system of the society. Mills argued that in order to have the sociological imagination,
one must be well oriented with the history of his society, so that the individual may know
what consequences of the society then led him there to his position, and what actions
must he do so that he can do something about it, if there is a flaw in the plan.
Mills goes on to describe people as being Seldom aware of the intricate connection
between the patterns of their own lives and the course of world history, ordinary people
do not usually know what this connection means for the kinds of people they are
becoming and for the kinds of history-making in which they might take part. They do not
possess the quality of mind essential to grasp the interplay of individuals and society, of

biography and history, of self and world. The people needs to grasp and develop this
skill since, as an individual, they are cell of the society, and if they are not able to learn,
think and orient themselves with the society, they will feel isolated within their
perspective of their world and will be left alone. This quote emphasizes the need of
sociological imagination. Without critical sociological imagination, the people has no skill
to discern and relate their problems to the municipality, city, country and finally to the
global community. Without this skill, a society will not be able to make out what issues
affect them and what action must be done so it something could be done about it.
One prominent persona in the Philippines that has a great social imagination is Dr. Jose
Rizal. His two most epic works which is Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are the
epitomes of the society during the Spanish Era in the Philippines. Dr. Jose Rizal
efficiently related the societal issues that affected Filipinos during that time and was able
to depict the private nuisance within the society a great public issue with great style that
it lighted the spark of the upcoming Filipino Revolution. One can say that Philippines
have a low sense of sociological imagination since it has been through a lot of long and
chaotic regimes which has been started by the Spanish people. Unlike Great Britain,
which has been the mother of all free thinkers, they are able to address the problems of
the collective society so that they can resolve it and move onwards.
Societies that lack this skill are the countries that are stuck in the status quo. They dont
make any move or they are just content to live in the norm. They have not moved
forward. The terms technological advancement, industrialization, globalization,
modernization, specialization and all other related zions is not included in their
dictionary. The society becomes reduced every single day as no one makes a move.
North Korea, Iran, and Iraq for example are a good basis for a country that has low
sense of sociological imagination. It may be opening its doors a little to the global
community but it cant be denied that it has lagged behind the advancements the whole
world has showcased through the decade.
Mexico is a concrete example of a society that has lived under a chaotic regime of
government. It has gone many autocratic governments. It may have been running under
a republic and may be recognized as a free nation, but what really runs the lifeline of
Mexico is its corrupt and violent drug cartels. Even after attaining freedom after the war
for its freedom, the country and its people which has suffered for the country has yet
again been suppressed and trafficked by the drug cartels that are operating globally.
Mexico is a slave to its self.

Mills also mentioned the importance of moral values in his essay. It can be summarized
that moral values are the cornerstone for each society and what standard of action and
freedom is acceptable. However since there is always force of nature that always
changes the momentum of the society, the people adjust themselves and their moral
ways so they could adapt to the modern world. For example, the act of marrying ones
own family member or relative so the heirlooms of the clan will be kept, preserved and
prosper is acceptable during the middle ages since there is an economic and
sociological situation that is happening and morally acceptable during that era.
However, since times change, economical issues revert and the people adjust again,
the tradition is now generally neglected, politically wrong and immoral, and is now even
punishable which can be called incest.
Notice how much different type of studies is related with sociology: history, economics,
psychology, philosophy and politics. These are just some of the many studies that are
correlated with the sociology. In every problem, a problem solver rises to the occasion,
hes the one that will try to resolve the personal troubles of milieu which one discovers
that the problem is not within but from the structure or system of the society itself which
has failed to adapt with the environment or lifestyle. This active sociologist does not
individually go and challenge the issue but spreads and shares it with the society to
make them relate. According to Mills, everyone must actively engage in tackling the
social issues of today since one small speck of a topic can ignite a social issue boom.
We must accept the inevitability of change since it is the only thing that is permanent in
the world.
A situation much simple that follows the personal troubles of milieu may be this
example which is often exemplified by the Filipino youth. A young boy enters college
and experiencing culture shock, he tries to adapt and keep up with the present society
he is joining in. He begins to lift weights, starts sculpting his body and at the same time
taking up illegal drugs that are not meant for his age. He now undergoes depression,
health problems and at the end fails in life. Applying social imagination, we can
conclude that society affected the lifestyle of the young man. However, one question
remains, sociology as a general base facts on concrete evidence and this is only a
theory. It requires therefore for one to study both sides of the study what affected the
other one and what moved the motion for such culture.
In any case people who were poor during their childhood and achieved glory at the end
almost always say, Hindi ko kasalanang mahirap ako, sa huli ikaw rin ang pipili ng
landas mo. This quote quite contradicts Mills application of sociological imagination. Is
it that the individual just overcame the system or does it mean that sociological
imagination is not always applicable? I think that sociological imagination is a subjective

term, while a more proper word is sociological thinking, where one applies common
sense.
Also in the last part of his essay, Mills confessed that he is ignorant on numbers and
mathematical figures, and that he really bases his studies on experience alone. Are not
the studying mathematical facts and figures related with the study of sociology?
Sociological imagination can be applied to it.
Change is the only thing that is permanent in this world. And through the study of
sociology, which inter-relates with other fields of study, we are able to discern,
understand, accept, and resolve the conflicts and problems that is going on
psychologically or sociologically. Through the use of sociological imagination, we pose
the questions, why, what is this problem/conflict? Through these academic questions
the society will be able to trace the roots of the problem or change that has happened
then. In order to form the sociological imagination we must be able to relate: *history,
where the society came from and how it formed and developed, **the biography of the
human nature in the environment, and what lifestyle they live, ***and the social structure
which includes the intricate form of system that indicates how various institutions and
organization perform and operate under a unique culture and mission.
The forces of nature, the imperfection of the structural political system and the scarcity
in economics leads the society to first question, accept, and adapt to the present state
the environment is going on. In line with this, the people must actively engage in a never
ending struggle against change for the worse. All of humanity is sociologists; some just
have chosen to be part of the solution.
In order to have order within the society we must be able to understand the life and tolls
of the individual and of the society.